Allow us elect our leaders – Traders beg Makinde

Traders in Oyo State have appealed to governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to allow them (traders) to elect their leaders.

Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Traders, Oyo State chapter, Mrs. Odunayo Kayode Danjuma, made the appeal on Monday.

Danjuma said the traders should be given the opportunity to elect those who would lead them.

According to her, “The commissioner called us for a stakeholders’ meeting, we came to the meeting to discuss the progress of traders in the state. Many issues were discussed. The governor wants everybody to be under one umbrella, and wants us to unite.

“The outcome is that they maintained the 12 clusters, though it has been dissolved. I advised the ministry that when reconstituting another council, they should present people of impeccable characters. The clusters should ensure that they send reliable people, so that we will not have another problem.

“The Babaloja case was mentioned. We have two cases. Only one Babaloja was present, Alhaji Aderemi Jimoh. One Babaloja, Alhaji Y.K. Abass has a case with Alhaji Aderemi Jimoh at Magistrate Court, while the Babaloja in council has a case with Alhaji Y.K. Abass at the High Court of Oyo State.

“They are the two cases. They now advised them to withdraw the two cases for the traders’ association to move forward.

“The issue of Iyaloja General, presently they said that we don’t have Iyaloja General in Oyo State.

“The government advised the two Babalojas to withdraw the case. The ministry advised them to withdraw the cases.

“It is the traders that sent us here. It is not our duty. We need to consult the traders first before recommendation to the governor. That is where the error is.”