Oyo Traders Rebel Against Olubadan Over ‘Imposition’ Of Babaloja General

Crisis appears to be brewing over the installation of Alhaji  Yekini Abass as the Babaloja General of Oyo State by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

Our correspondent gathered on Thursday that some traders were planning to install their own Babaloja General  apart from the one the monarch had installed.

The monarch had installed Abass as the Babloja General of the state following the death of the former occupant of the office.

But immediately after the installation, some government officials said the state government was not aware of the development. It was gathered that the government officials were shocked at the installation of Abass because  someone else had already been nominated to fill the vacant position.

However, Governor Seyi Makinde had said he could not disagree on any issue with the Olubadan. He said this when he went to congratulate the monarch on 92nd birthday.

Makinde had said,  “I want to say here that since Kabiyesi has taken such a decision, it is confirmed by the government as well. So, they should follow the needed due process. Kabiyesi cannot make a decision and we will overturn it.”

But a group of aggrieved traders under the aegis of Coalition of Traders in Oyo State kicked against this, saying they would not allow anybody to impose a leader on them.

The group, in a letter signed by three of its members,   Abu Abioye  and others decried the alleged imposition, saying this could trigger a crisis in their association.

The aggrieved traders said they would not recognise anybody parading himself as the Babaloja General, saying the constitution of the association must be followed.

The statement read, “Alhaji Sumaila Aderemi Jimoh who was duly and constitutionally elected as Babaloja of Oyo State remain as Babaloja of Oyo State and has legal rights to continue functioning in the same capacity till his tenure ends, with option to seek re-election for the second  term.

“We know and believe the state governor Engr. Seyi Makinde is a lover of peace and a respecter of rule of law. He would not want to go against the rule of law which he has also benefited from when governorship election that produced him was challenged in the court of law. Neither would the governor be interested in any issue capable of truncating the peace currently enjoy by the good people of Oyo State.

“We also know Kabiyesi, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, to be a defender of his subjects, promoter of people, who always stand against injustice, especially of this nature; which is similar to what late Senator Abiola Ajimobi was trying to carry out when he embarked on illegal restructuring of Ibadan Obaship Titles. It is on record that Kabiyesi resisted this evil agenda very unrepentantly.

“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.’ Counting on this, we have the believe that some selfish individuals are those misleading His Majesty on this issue.”

However, Abbas did not answer the calls placed to him by our correspondent and he had yet to reply the text message sent to him to seek his position on the issue.