Oyo Traders Crisis: Market Leaders Warn Impostors, threaten Sanctions

Babaloja-Generals and Iyaloja-Generals from all the five zones in Oyo State have warned Alhaji Y. K. Abass to stop parading himself as Babaloja-General of Oyo State.

While speaking at an emergency meeting in Ibadan which was called by the concerned elders and was well attended by markets leaderships from the five Zones in Oyo State, Babaloja-General Oke Ogun, Alhaji Whaab Adebayo Elesin, described the action of Alhaji Y. K. Abass as unethical and an insult to the over two million market men and women in Oyo State.

He regretted the shameful act of Y. K. Abass who has imposed himself on a population of over 2 million men and women with his said ownership of about 1% supporters.


Representatives present at the meeting also include Oke-Ogun, Babaloja-General, Alhaji Whaab Adebayo Elesin; Iyaloja-General Oke-Ogun, Alhaja Limota Whaab; Iyaloja-General Oyo Alaafin, Alhaja Khadijat Adepeju Bakare; Babaloja-General Ogbomosoland, Mr. OLUSEGUN Akangbe Joseph; Iyaloja-General of Ogbomosoland, Alhaja Rafat Morenike Wahab; Babaloja-General of Ibarapaland, Elder Ayandeji Olusola and Iyaloja-General of Ibarapaland, who is also the Acting Iyaloja-General of Oyo State, Chief Mrs Justina Iyabode Ogundoyin.

It would be recalled that traders, market men and women from the zones listed above along with members from the 11 local governments in Ibadan gathered at the House of Chiefs, Agodi in Ibadan last year to elect Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh as the Babaloja-General of Oyo State.

Alhaji Elesin noted that nothing has changed till this moment and even prior to his emergence as Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh was the Babaloja-General for the markets 11 local government councils in Ibadanland.

He stressed that the association won’t accept any act of aberration or action that’s morally condemnable to override the decision of the majority and all must stand to liberate the association from hijackers, busybodies and political rats as they have done to other professional bodies, unions and associations.

On her part while addressing the attendees, the Acting Iyaloja-General of Oyo State, Chief Mrs Justina Iyabode Ogundoyin appreciated the concern of body members, adding that work was in progress with the national body, and that the southwest coordinator, Chief (Mrs.) Odunayo Danjuma has pledged her support to their cause.

She said it is however expected of the government and other relevant authorities to call the said Y. K. Abass to order.