Traders across major markets in Oyo State under the platform of Omituntun Economic Regeneration Traders Association on Friday lamented the desperation of Princess Folashade Abeo’s alleged unbending moves to compromise the leadership of Oyo State House of Assembly over the Iyaloja-General’s position in the State.
Available statistics and several media reports had it that the position was long settled in favour of an elderly Septuagenarian, Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje by all the stakeholders in the Oyo State Traders Association.
A member of the Omituntun Economic Regeneration Traders Association, Alhaja Omolara Adetunji from Gbagi; Bola Ige International Market told newsmen in Ibadan that, “Alhaja Princess Folasade Abeo is hellbent on scuttling the efforts of other market leaders in the State who have jointly and severally told the State Government that Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje had been duly elected and appointed at several fora in the last 18months.
“What we have noticed these days is that Abeo has been making several unsuccessful moves to curry the favour of the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and known aides of His Excellency. This didn’t work and she had also surreptitiously ensured there was a fresh election using some compromised civil servants but it also botched, hence the recent intervention of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, his Deputy, Hon Muhammed Fadeyi and a host of other State lawmakers.
“The Assembly leadership which stood for justice and fair play asked the Committee on Commerce and Cooperatives to wade in, and bring about amicable settlement of the leadership crisis as the issue on who becomes the Iyaloja-General of Oyo State rages between Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje and Alhaja Folashade Nurudeen Abeo.
“Regrettably and in her usual way of flaunting wealth and attending parties of notable citizens and government officials, all in efforts to reap where she did not sow, Nurudeen Folashade Abeo sent a public congratulatory message to the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Cooperatives, Hon. Razak Adekunle Mabaje as the lawmaker marked his birthday.
“This development may be seen as normal by unsuspecting traders across the markets, but one of the members of Omituntun Economic Regeneration Traders Association who raised the alarm, warned about this unhealthy situation and stressed the need to raise our voices against it, hence this media briefing,” Adetunji stressed.
Adetunji appealed to Hon. Adekunle Mabaje and the Assembly leadership to do their findings with utmost caution and be conscientious in their dealings with the issue of Iyaloja-General in the State by involving and inviting all the stakeholders in the Oyo State Market Association to ensure Justice is done in the matter.