On Tuesday, 8th of August, 2020, the National Association of Nigeria Traders led by the South West coordinator, Chief Mrs. Odunayo Danjuma speaks at the press conference organised by the coalition of traders in Oyo state. The event took place at NUJ Press Center, where she speaks on the leadership tussle of who become the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Oyo state.
Below is the brief of the press conference:
SPEECH DELIVERED BY CHIEF (MRS.) ODUNAYO DANJUMO, SOUTHWEST COORDINATOR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA TRADERS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE COALITION OF TRADERS IN OYO STATE TO KICK AGAINST IMPOSITION OF ALHAJI Y.K. ABASS AS BABALOJA OF OYO STATE BY HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, OBA SALIU ADETUNJI, AJE OGUNGUNNISO 1, THE OLUBADAN OF IBADANLAND ON TUESDAY 8th OF AUGUST, 2020, AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTER, IYAGANKU IBADAN.
On behalf of Market Traders Association, Oyo State Chapter, I welcome you all to this press conference organized by the Coalition of Traders in Oyo State, to sensitize the media and the members of the public on the ongoing crisis in the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Traders Association.
Gentlemen of the press, our major reason for being here is to clear the air on the leadership tussle affecting our association in Oyo State. There are quite a number of misleading news in circulation about the authentic Chairman of the Association in Oyo State.
The position of:
That over two million market men and women from the 33 Local Government Councils in Oyo State agreed and nominated the Chairman of Babaloja and Iyaloja of Bodija Market, Ibadan, who is also the Chairman of Babaloja and Iyaloja of 11 Local Government Councils in Oyo State, Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh as Babaloja Of Oyo State.
"That on Monday 24 of August 2020, at the House of Chiefs, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan the Iyalojas and Babalojas from all geopolitical zones in Oyo State, including Okeogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, the 4 zones from Oyo gathered to elect Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh as the new "Babaloja of Oyo State".
"That the process that produced Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh as the Babaloja of Oyo State followed due process and was conducted in line with the constitution of our association. This was the reason why their wasn't any objection or rancour throughout the process.
"To our surprised, few days after communicating the outcome of the events at the House of Chiefs, where Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh emerged as the new Babaloja of Oyo State, to the National and Southwest bodies of our association we heard on the radio that Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has illegally and unconstitutionally installed one Alhaji Y.K. Abass as Babaloja of Oyo State.
"Our association however considered the development as an embarrassment and very disgraceful for anyone to impose a leader on an organisation with over two million market men and women in the state at the period when the leaderships of our various markets are striving to secure fund for our traders to reduce or completely eliminate the havoc caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the economy of our dear state.
"It is pertinent to also state here that our association is like every other associations or unions registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
"Just like no one can singlehandedly impose leader on any of there, NMA, NBA, NFF, NSE, NLC, TUC, it would be very impossible for any one to impose a leader on our association. We have constitution and it must be adhered to and respected to avoid crisis.
"We believe in the leadership of our father, the Kabiyesi, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1. Olubadan is a defender of all his subjects, promoter of peace, who always stand against injustice and favourism. It is still fresh in our memories our Oba Adetunji stood firmly against injustice when late Senator Abiola Ajimobi made attempt to illegally restructure Ibadan Obaship Titles.
"To also buttress our assurance on Kabiyesi's zero tolerance for injustice. His Majesty has once sent us a letter on similar issue, the letter was on Kabiyesi's letterhead paper and signed by Adeola Oloko on 16th July, 2020. It reads, " Kabiyesi Olubadan asked me to inform you that as a matter of principle, he does not interfere in the internal affairs of traders." Definitely, there are some selfish individuals currently misleading His Majesty.
"We are here to reaffirm our stand on the leadership of our association in Oyo State, that "Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh who was duly and constitutionally elected as Babaloja of Oyo State at the Oyo State House of Chiefs on Monday, August 24, 2020 remains the authentic BABALOJA OF OYO STATE. We hereby warn who ever is parading himself as Babaloja to stop doing so immediately because we won't compromise our stand on the choice of Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh as Babaloja of Oyo State. We are ready to defend the mandate of over two million people without fear of intimidation or arrassment.
"As law abiding citizens we hereby appeal to the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Commissioner of Police, Heads of other security agencies, the traditional rulers, religious leaders, leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Congress and personalities in the society to as a matter of necessity intervene to prevent looming crisis and possible break down of laws and order," the group appealed.