One of the landmarks of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, since he ascended the throne in March 2016 is seen in Ibadan markets, leading to the emergence of the new Iyaloja. TUNDE BUSARI reports
Some weeks after theOlubadan of Ibadan, Oba SaliuAdetunjiformally installed the new Iyaloja of Ibadanland in Chief MrsOyinlolaIswatAbiola, the Ibadan market women and men are still relishing the new era brought about by the new leadership.
Nigerian Tribune visit to the market revealed happy and motivated traders going about their businesses in an unusually calm ambience, a contrast to the thick apprehension that filled the airspace before Oba Adetunji’s timely intervention doused it and restored status quo.
Aletter of appointment from the office of the Olubadan, dated March 20, 2017 and signed by Oba Adetunji, has since given the royal consent to the new Iyaloja in accordance with Section 22 (2) of the Chief Law Cap 28 Law of Oyo State 2000.
Although the Governor of Oyo State, Senator AbiolaAjimobi was not part of the installation gathering held at the Oja’ba palace of the monarch, his convoy incidentally ran into the dancing traders at Ogunpasoon after the rite.
Governor Ajimobi was said to have happily identified with the traders and proclaimed the new Iyaloja. He also offered prayer to her for peaceful tenure in office.
“We give glory to God and thank Kabiyesi for coming in when it was most important. The matter in the market leadership could have turned to bad blood because of some distrust we discovered. But that one is now in the past.
“We have a new leader and we are ready to support her and her executive members to lead us to prosperity. The way the matter was handled shows that traditional rulers are still very relevant in modern governance. Kabiyesi did it in a way that satisfied everybody,” a market woman, who declined to disclose her name, told our correspondent.
The remark of the woman, however, offered a clue on the behind-the-scene role the palace played in the process leading to the appointment of the new iyaloja.
It was gathered that the market association was divided over certain allegation against the immediate past market administration, the issue which compelled the palace to constitute a panel which investigated the matter and eventually came up with a decision.
In its wisdom, the Olubadan-In-Council was said to have caused the two sides to sign an undertaking to accept the decision of the investigative panel. None of the parties objected to the term. Five members represented each side in the hearing that lasted two days. In the end, the decision was made and the truce was achieved.
The new Iyaloja, who was formerly, the head of Adedibu Market, Molete, Ibadan, is still not fully recovered from the stress that went into the process leading to her emergence.
According to her, the result was not achieved on a platter of gold, even though she is full of gratitude to the Olubadan and the High Chiefs, including the Iyalode of Ibadan, AlhajAminatAbiodun. She recalled the role the Iyalode played in guiding her members from taking law into their hands but employing wisdom which in the long run paid off.
When the matter was tabled before theiyalode in her residence, the Iyaloja further recalled, the delegation was rightly guided on what to do, a piece of advice resulting in the press conference held in December in Ibadan where the development in the market was extensively explained to the public.
“In the light of this, we are very happy for the role they played. It is on record that the Olubadan-In-Council was neutral. It gave everybody a level playground, which I think, has made the whole thing ended well.
“And I am going to use this experience as my guide in my style of administration. When you a straightforward in a dispute, your heart is free, you sleep well and leave the rest to God, the final arbiter. What they did is a lesson in leadership. I will make it my policy to direct the affair of our association, God willing,” she stated.
The antecedent of the new Iyaloja was a clear signpost of what she has finally become in the hierarchy of traders association. An indigene of Ibadan from Kudeti and wife to Ibadan man at Kobomoje, she has put in 37 years into trading with a modest success in her kitty.
During the trying moment of the association, she was said to have emerged the lone voice that rose in defence of the constitution of the body.
In 2012, she became the Iyaloja of Adedibu Market, Molete, Ibadan, the position she held until 2015 when promotion elevated her to the head of the entire Ibadan South-west Local Government Council markets. Then came March 20, when she entered the history book as the iyaloja of Ibadanland and its environs.
The President of Ibadan Joint Traders Association, AlhajiOladepo attested to the leadership quality of the new Iyaloja and is confident of her successful tenure, pointing out that her consistent standing on the side of the truth has always been her hallmark in the association.
AlhajiOladepo affirmed that the new Iyaloja has demonstrated tomembers that she has what it takes to lead the association to greater height, adding that majority of the members are excited, especially with the way she emerged at the end of the day.
“The issue raised by some differences which we experienced in the immediate past was not ordinary but we thank God the way it ended. So, we are very sure that this is a new era our members have long wished for. I am experienced enough to know what our members want and this leadership is going to do just that,” he said.
The president’s assurance may be a leak of the administration’s preparedness to go all out to retrieve the association property including a Hummer Bus back to the secretariat.
To this end, the palace has given the new Iyaloja the needed consent to use the instrumentality of her office to pursue goals aimed at restoring confidence of members in her leadership.
To the secretary of the association, KamilAriyothere is no going back in ensuring that what belongs to the association but not in its possession is brought back for the use of members.
“There is no need to go into details of those things. But I am assuring you that the association is working towards collecting everything. We once again thank the Olubadan, the Iyalode and other high chiefs who rose to the occasion and settled the matter,” he said.
Asked on the menace of street urchins allegedly taking over Ibadan markets, especially on the popular Oja’ba/ Beere axis highway, the Iyaloja also lamented the trend but promised to give it priority attention.
She, however, explained that government also needs to come up with an enduring policy that would take the youth off the streets.
“I want to advise our governor to embark on mass farming scheme to productively engage these youths. If this is done, it will change a lot of things on the security of the society. I believe our government will do this and also build more small shops for our members. Nobody is happy selling under the sunlight. It is not good for our health. Government should help us in this direction,” she charged.
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