The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT) has warned Market Traders Association of Nigeria to desist from activities causing problems among traders in Oyo State and Southwest region of Nigeria.
NANT gave this warning in a release signed by the Southwest Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Adegoke, on behalf of the national president of the association on Monday in Ibadan. NANT also described the activities engaged in by MATAN in Oyo State and Southwest region of the federation as one that is against all common sense.
The release reads, “We have received several petitions on the illegal and ignoble activities of an organization called Market Traders Association of Nigeria in Oyo State and Southwest by extension and also have tried to advise those behind the strange development to embrace peace and respect traders’ various associations constitutions, which our organisation has protecting and guiding over the years as a foremost traders association in Nigeria.
“We also discovered that MATAN has no moral ground to nurse idea of installing Iyaloja-General in any of the Southwest states, considering the fact that the association hasn’t any member in the Southwest region, therefore it is even an insult to thing of imposing an allen on traders as Iyaloja-General of Southwest States.
“According to information at our disposal, both MATAN and one Princess Folasade Nurudeen popularly called Abeo Osa were imported into Oyo State to foment trouble by some conspirators from associations that are really not traders associations but tied to traders associations for political reason through marriage of inconvenience by the past administration in Oyo State.
“We have also gathered that Folasade Nurudeen was never a member of any trade association nor has any visible shop nor engaging in any business in any market in Oyo State before the present leadership tussle started among traders in Oyo State about three (3) years ago. We challenge those backing illegality in Oyo State to bring all records of her activities before those who have names to protect or arbitrators or court of law.
“We also wish to let members of the public, business organizations, banks, multinationals firms, farmers and corporate organisations aware that each of our states in the Southwest region already has its Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General functioning perfectly. MATAN is unknown association to traders in Oyo State, therefore it has no moral and constitutional rights to install anybody as Iyaloja-General in Oyo State.
“We therefore call on security agencies to invite MATAN, Folasade Nurudeen and their supporters for questioning and stop them from causing unnecessary problems that can result to breakdown of laws and order in the state.
