A Coalition of Traders, Artisans, Market Men and Women in Oyo on Tuesday held an emergency congress and appointed Task Force for each of the five Zones in the state, and also suspended the Iyaloja-General of Ibadanland, Chief Mrs. Iswiat Ameringun.
Ameringun was suspended in a petition jointly signed by all Iyalojas in all 11 Local governments of Ibadan land, alleging that Ameringun is not representing good interest of market men and women in Ibadanland and Oyo State in General and thereby replaced her with Alhaja Saariat Olorunero in acting capacity.
A communique read at the end of the Congress confirmed Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as the next Iyaloja-General of Oyo State, having been the Otun Iyaloja General of the state due to rotational arrangement agreed to by all the Iyalojas and Babalojas from the 33 local governments across the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Mrs. Justina Ogundoyin remains the Acting Iyaloja-General of Oyo State pending the ratification of every necessary documents and process that would usher in the new Iyaloja-General by the committee set up, which has representatives of all associations that formed the coalition.
Recall that Coalition on 24th of August converged in the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan and elected Alhaji Aderemi Jimoh as the Babaloja General of Oyo State.
Speaking on Tuesday in Ibadan during an emergency meeting well attended by traders, artisans, market men and women from the 33 local government as well as 5 Zones in Oyo State, the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji Aderemi Jimoh noted that the congress become necessary to discuss some crucial and important reasons especially the lingering issues affecting the development and progress the associations.
He also said that the convergence also discuss some crucial and important issues such as state of the associations, especially the lingering issues affecting the development and progress of the associations; to make announcement on some decisions, including appointments to move the associations forward, and to discuss the future of traders businesses and associations and lastly all other necessary matters.
Aderemi noted that several consultations and peace meetings were held to put rest to impersonation embarked on by the fake Babaloja-General to no avail to avoid break down of laws and orders.
He said that the case is currently in court of law, and an interim injunction was granted to them to function among market men and women.
He however stated that all these several acts exhibited by a faction of market men and women in the state against constitutions of the associations has caused destabilization and drew back the progress of the associations in the last one year, saying that the association remain strong.
In her remark, the Southwest Coordinator of the National Association of Nigeria Traders, Chief Mrs. Odunayo Danjuma noted that Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is the Ministry responsible for the traditional matters, while Ministry for Trade and Commerce is for the market men and women.
She noted that market men and women are not under the authority of any chieftaincy law because we are register under Cooperate Affairs Corporation (CAC), adding that they are ready to defend the constitution of traders in the state and Nigeria at large.
