Oyo state market leaders through the eighth (8) of the 12 existing market executives and two (2) ex-Officio in the State have jointly sent an open letter to Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde over the raging controversy on the Iyaloja-General of the State.
The letter titled: “Appeal for prompt ratification of the nomination of Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State”, dated November 20, 2023, was signed by 10 of the 12 market leaders in the State.
Recall that there has been confusion over who is the rightful Iyaloja-General of the State between Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje and Princess Folashade Abeo.
The market leaders in their letter to the Governor implored him to ensure instantaneous ratification of the nomination-cum-election of Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as Iyaloja-General.
The open letter was jointly signed by the Oyo State Market Leaders’ Council including their President, Alhaji Dauda Abiodun Oladepo; the Vice President, Mogaji Salaudeen Qarmardeen; the Second Vice President, Chief Mrs Stella Olabode; the Financial Secretary, Chief Mrs Labake Lawal and the Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Yisau Kolayode Hamzat;
Others were both ex-Officio Alhaja Hamdalat Iyadunni Lawal and Alhaji Azeez Amole Najimdeen; alongside three other members, Chief Mrs Odunayo Kayode Danjuma; Alhaji Malik Adebayo Babasale and Alhaja Fausat Adebiyi, respectively.
Treasurer, Chief Mrs Juliana Titilayo Raimi and a member, Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh did not sign the document sent to the Governor.
All the leaders disowned the alleged claimant to the title Princess Folashade Abeo.
Their letter read in parts: “We respectfully wish to call the attention of Your Excellency to the crisis that the pending ratification of the appointment of Iyaloja General of Oyo State has been causing in the state.”
“The issue had been heating the polity and if not timely concluded could degenerate into chaos, more media war and civil unrest in the state.”
“We also wish to mention that our informal sector in the State constitutes more than 60% of the economy and, allowing crisis in such sector could be brutal and unbearable to the state.”
“Your Excellency would recall, that you approved the inauguration of the Council in March 2022 as the highest traders’ group in the State and we have been working hard to ensure that we contribute our quota to the development and growth of the economy of the State as well introducing innovations to our dear station on the pedestal of development. Part of the innovation is the nomination of Alhaja Saratu Adunni Konibaje as Iyaloja General of the State.”
“The Council during its meeting on Thursday, April 6th, 2022 commenced the process that would lead to the appointment of Iyaloja General in the State. The duo of Alhaja (Princess) Azeezat Folashade Nurudeen and Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje were nominated during the Council meeting and an election was held.”
“Alhaja Aduke Konibaje polled a total vote of 7 while Alhaja (Princess) Azeezat Folashade Nurudeen scored 2 votes which showed that Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje won the election.”
“To our dismay, the Ministry of Trade claimed to have forwarded the result of the peaceful election to Your Excellence for ratification as appropriate, but we are yet to receive any information regarding the issuance of Certificate and other instruments of Office to her, talk less of assuming duty as expected.”
“To this end, we are using this medium to appeal to Your Excellency to please, promptly ratify the nomination of Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as Iyaloja General of Oyo State. This will not only douse the tension in the State but would also fast track the economic development of our dear State.”
