A group of Oyo State Professionals in the United Kingdom on Friday lampooned a controversial Mogaji in Ibadanland, Chief Olawale Oladoja for throwing weight behind Alhaja Folashade Abeo as Iyaloja-General of the State.
The UK Professionals in a statement by their London Coordinator, Adegbola Aleshinloye described Wale Oladoja as someone who needs not to be taken seriously by the good people of the State.
Dabbling into the leadership of market leaders in our country home by a supposed Mogaji who should be a a custodian of his people, ‘is in bad taste and unfortunate altogether’.
According to Aleshinloye, the issue of who gets what on market leadership has been long settled by the market leaders themselves affirming their supports for that elderly woman, Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje believed to be enjoying widespread popularity amongst her colleagues and stakeholders in Ibadan and Oyo State in general.
For Mogaji Wale Oladoja to come out and say he is supporting Folashade Abeo for the same position that has a reigning Iyaloja-General amounted to insubordination and lack of focus and sense of history on the part of that Mogaji.
Aleshinloye stressed that, “that so-called Mogaji is not a credible Chief who should be taken serious but for Folashade Abeo with her supporters who may be tricked into believing that she has a good ally in Oladoja.
“Here is the same Wale Oladoja whose beads were removed recently by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun for alleged misconduct over land matters.
“A controversial Mogaji whose beads were removed by the Olubadan-in-council now parading Folashade Abeo shows the woman has lost a direction and credible supporter.
“It took several interventions of Mogajis and other stakeholders after he showed remorse; pleaded and begged for forgiveness, that his beads were given back to him and his Mogaji status restored by our ever forgiving Kabiyesi, Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“The report that Wale Oladoja visited the embattled Folashade Abeo shows those associating with her are people of questionable backgrounds and character whose identities and antecedents speak volume of their personality in the State.
“We are hasten to let Abeo understand that this Mogaji only spoke on behalf of himself and not the great people of Ibadanland.
“He (Wale Oladoja) should be discountenanced by the people of the State. Someone like him endorsing Abeo calls to question the character of unsuspecting Folashade Abeo.
“From the reports from our royal fathers especially the Olubadan palace, Ibadan is solidly behind Saratu Aduke Konibaje, a distinguished trader and worthy daughter of the city of Ibadanland.
“Ibadan traditional Council members are behind their own, Saratu Aduke Konibaje as the Iyaloja-General of the State. It is showing to the whole world that she is our fathers’ preferred market leader.
“And the State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde should without further delay implement all the results of several elections conducted amongst the market leaders whose majority have chosen Saratu as their Iyaloja-General,” Aleshinloye added.