As a form of wide acceptability, traders and market women in the four local government areas of Oyo town yesterday queued behind Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as their Iyaloja-general of the state.
It would be recalled that the election that was held to determine who the Iyaloja-general is was decided in favour of Konibaje who had 7 votes while her main challenger, Princess Folasade Abeo had 2. The 3 other clusters abstained from voting.
Their endorsement laid to rest the crisis rocking the association in the state. Some members of the association have have to approach the court to determine who selects the leadership between the members and traditional rulers, an action which was said to have been determined in favour of the market women.
At yesterday’s meeting in the ancient town which had the Iyalajes and Iyalojas as well as other ranking officers of the association from across the state in attendance, they said that “Abeo has no grassroots presence in any of the markets in Oyo and we won’t sit here and allow an impostor to masquerade as a bonafide trader in Oyo talk less of becoming our Iyaloja.
“Go to any of the markets in Oyo, namely Akesan, Sabo, Ajegunle, Akunlemu, Owode, and other top markets here, we can tell you for a fact that she doesn’t have a presence. She trades in Lagos and not a member of any known association here. She should go and contest in Lagos.
“We are solidly for Konibaje. She is the one we know. She has been with us and she has been relevant. For over 50 years, she has traded in soya beans and other similar things. Our full support is for Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje. She is the one we want as our next Iyaloja General. Apart from experience, she is capable.
