Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Council Must Have Inputs – Council Chairman
As the controversies surrounding the appointment for the Iyaloja – General for Igogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) rages on, the former Chairman of the council, Prince (Alhaji) Hon. Jimoh Adeleye Ogunmuyiwa, Babaloja General , Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA since 2004, has said that the selection or appointment of the Iyaloja or Babaloja, is the sole responsibility of the traders, and not that of the palace or local government.
He said that the selection of Alhaja (Lion) Ashake Wahab, as the new Iyaloja-General of lgbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, was done by the members of the association before she was capped last Thursday by the Iyaloja – General of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu – Ojo.
Prince Ogunmuyiwa, while speaking with THE IMPACT in his house in the presence of some of the market leaders on Tuesday, said that four candidates – Mrs Funke Obayomi, Mrs Bilikisu Sulaimon, Chief (Mrs) Mojisola Oyesanya and Alhaja Ashake Adenike Wahab, contested for the position.
“Ideally, the process of appointing or electing the Iyaloja or Babaloja is not the responsibility of a traditional ruler or the local government, because I was once an elected council Chairman. The power of the council is just supervisory roles, and not that of appointing.
“The local government can build markets just the same way that they can build hospitals and other infrastructures since they campaign with the promise to do, but they don’t have the power to appoint Iyalojas and Babalojas.
“That responsibility rests upon the members of the market association. These are the people that operate in the market and they are the ones that know the person that is capable of representing them.
“In some places, they always insist on having an indigene to be in any of the positions just to assist the indigenes, but if that is not the case, anyone can be Iyaloja or Babaloja. Before now, the issue of indigenes becoming Iyaloja and Babaloja is not prevalent until now.
“They usually refer to traders in all sort of manner and this created fear and prevented people from aspiring for the positions. But now that everyone is interested, we are now pushing those sons and daughters of a particular locality to be made the Iyalojas and Babaojas.
“That notwithstanding, they are going to lobby the traders to lead them, and not that it will be offer just like that”.
Speaking on the process of selection that resulted in the emergence of Alhaja Wahab, he said:
“It is unfortunate that Mama Obayomi died just two days to her installation as the Iyaloja General. Mama struggled for 20 years to become the Iyaloja and that the position should be automatically given for her, since the other Iyaloja General died last year.
“Also, after Mama Obayomi’s death, l spoke with the committee that we should compensate Mama Obayomi’s daughter, but she rejected it, stating that she would have accepted the position if her two late brothers were alive, because they would have given her support. She later visited me privately to beg that she should not be considered.
“That was how we started searching. It was during this process that representatives of the palace came to inform us about the type of persons that they prefer as Iyaloja. The Iyalode of Igbogbo, whom has been meeting with us because of her position, made it known to us that the Igbogbo community prefer younger person around 50 years and must not be older than 60 years at most. She added that the person must be from Igbogbo, because the position has eluded the town for quite some time now.
“She also informed us that the new Iyaloja must be educated, because we have never had an educated Iyaloja, and also that she must be accommodating and influential.
“On his own, the Council Chairman, at one of the marketers’ meeting, also insisted that the next Iyaloja must be a young woman and also emphasized similar qualities like the palace representative.
“In addition, the palace also told us that we must ensure that the new Iyaloja emerges before the burial of the late Iyaloja Obayomi, but unfortunately, we were unable to pick a preferred candidate before then. It was at this point that the market committee was charged to expand the search. They were charged to look for a candidate that can express herself and have good public appearance like the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu – Ojo and the Iyaloja General of Ikorodu Division, Chief Busola Isikalu.
“It was after that, that they met with other candidates and one of them, Alhaji Ashake Adenike Wahab rejected the idea and ran away, and also cried to Kabiyesi and other elders. I did not know her before the committee brought her, but I was told that she had her shop ( which is now located elsewhere) along Bola Tinubu Way before its demolition alongside other buildings to give right of way for road construction.
“I learnt that she was asked to consider the offer by the palace and other elders that she contacted and when the committee brought her to me for interview, I engaged her on many grounds and even tried to scare her by telling her that we usually appease some gods like Esu, Ogun, Aje and others, but she said that she will try. I later told her that she should go and reconsider her stance if she is ready.
“After some days, another candidate, one Mrs Biliki, was also brought to me by the committee, and I also engaged her too. She is from the Ijaolu family like myself.
“ However, we suddenly heard that the Council Chairman said that he has a candidate, but he only told me that he would see me concerning the market issue.
“The practice, usually, is that once we are capped by the Iyaloja General in Lagos, the local government will issue us certificate while the Kabiyesi will give the royal blessings.
“We asked the market committee to meet with the Chairman to inform him about our decision, unfortunately, those that were sent there came back in a very bad mood because of the threat to them by the Council Chairman.
According to him, Builder Daini said to them, “Who do you think you are? I told you that I have a candidate for the Iyaloja position, but you are giving me another person. I am the rightful person to pick the Iyaloja as the Council Chairman. I will send all of you away, especially those of you that are not from Igbogbo. I will tell the Council Manager to write you all, to present your certificates.
“We thought that it was a joke, but while the committee was with me the second day, we received a letter that I must present all of them the following Monday, and they must come with their certificates and the approval for the establishment of their markets. These are elderly women and mothers that she embarrassed and threatened, but we all agreed that we are not going to honour his directive and we did not go.
“Subsequently, when we attended the market meeting at the council secretariat, he called me ( he addressed me as “my leader) and asked if I have not seen the letter sent to me and I simply told him that I have not called any meeting to inform the market leaders about his directive. That was how he started intimidating us”, Prince Ogunmuyiwa said.
While stating categorically that the Kabiyesi of Igbogbo, has no hands in the selection of the new Iyaloja – General, Babaloja Ogunmuyiwa recalled his position when the Ikorodu LG Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, also confronted the Ayangure over the selection of Iyaloja in Ikorodu.
“I later heard that he was saying that it was the Kabiyesi that imposed the woman on us which is not true. Although, Kabiyesi is the father of all, but he cannot decide for us. Let me take you back to the apex leaders’ (APC in Ikorodu Division) meeting at Baba Ogunleye’s (former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye) house when Adeshina (Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, Chairman Ikorodu LG) asked to know who has the power to appoint the Babaloja and Iyaloja during his face – off with the Ayangbure, I was asked to comment as a former Council Chairman and the Babaloja General.
“In my response, I told the apex leaders that neither the council nor the palace has the right and power to determine who to be made the Iyaloja or Babaloja, for the market people. It is only the market people that have the power to appoint or elect whosoever that they deemed fit to lead them, amongst themselves. It was after that they will take the person to the Kabiyesi for his royal blessings, and then to the council to receive certificates
“There is no need for the Chairman to toe the same line with Adeshina, having seen how it all ended over there, and it is not proper for anyone to embark on campaign of calumny that Kabiyesi is the one that imposed the woman on us, whereas, we are the one that picked her as our preferred candidate. Nobody can impose any candidate on the Olojas (market women and men).
“It is unfortunate that the same people that said that the position of Iyaloja cannot go outside the Igbogbo community, are the same that are saying otherwise. It is also unfortunate that the Council Chairman that said and emphasized that we must consider an educated and younger person, is also the one acting contrary to his stance”.
He said that the market frowned at the decision of the council boss, to order them to a meeting/press conference in opposition to their decision to select their own Iyaloja.
“The last straw that broke his carmel’s back was when he called the press conference. He ordered all the market leaders and the committee that selected the new Iyaloja to appear at the council, threatening that he would dissolve the committee and prove to them that it is the local government that owns the market”, Prince Ogunmuyiwa further alleged.
“For the press conference, he went to Alausa to invite the Secretary of the Marketing Board from the Ministry, to quote the laws and the sections of the constitution that empower the local government to appoint an Iyaloja. Although, I wasn’t there, because we agreed that none of us must attend and we did not attend.
“Fortunately, and unfortunately, the DPO called me on the eve of the press conference by the Council, that he wanted to see me at the station, but I did not see his message until he called me around 9am, telling me that he had sent message to me that I must report at the station at 8am.
“When the market leaders learnt that I was at the station, they called to join me but I asked them not to bother, but none of them attended the press briefing called by the council chairman except the Iyaloja Ibeshe, Chief Oyesanya, whom he plotted to pick. The other 26 market leaders are together with me.
“He threatened to dissolve the market association and the following day, he started writing letters which were served to all the palaces, market leaders, DPO and others, and they were looking for me and the market secretary to be served but they never find us, yet, we were in the town”, he said.
The former council chairman said that the process to install/cap Alhaja Wahab, was started after the press conference and within days, they succeeded in ensuring that she was capped by the Iyaloja of Lagos.
“We instantly started the process of presenting our candidate to the rightful place where we usually install Iyalojas and Babalojas, and last week Thursday, we installed a new Iyaloja at the secretariat in Ikeja, where sponsored thugs, who were carrying placards and calling themselves market youths, tried to invade. Their placards were confiscated. They also protested to the palace.
“These are boys that are not part of the market association or have anything to do with us. While they were sponsoring protests, we were crowning our new Iyaloja. That was how we selected our Iyaloja and got her installed.
“The capping of Mrs Wahab also presented other 12 others the opportunity to be capped, and others should be ready to go for their own capping.
“The Council Chairman prevented us from honouring and according him and the palace necessary respect and ceremonies. During my time, despite being the Council Chairman, it was the Adeboruwa palace that I first visited after my capping, to receive the royal blessings and after that, I moved to the council where the council officer applied oath of office on me, and presented me with a certificate, because before the installation, I stepped aside as the council chairman.
“But it is not yet over for the Chairman if he can retrace his steps”.
The Babaloja General of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, said that members of the market are together and they have embarked on steps to reconcile the acting Iyaloja – General appointed by the Council Chairman, Chief (Mrs) Mojisola Oyesanya.
“There is no problem among the marketers. We are one. Among the 27 markets, at least, 26 of us are together and members of the 27th market, which is under Mrs Mojisola Oyesanya, are not happy not being together with us.
“To this end, we have summoned a meeting to resolve everything. We are ready to bring Mrs Oyesanya back to our fold and I also expect the Council Chairman to do the needful. He only has six months to complete his term.
“Marketers are together and we don’t want any political problem, because we play critical roles in the political setting.
“Our importance recently reflected in the way the Governor treated us before the last Governorship election when the political atmosphere in Lagos was very challenging. He gathered us at the Blue Roof, LTV, where he appealed to us and we also made our grievances known to him and the local government chairmen that were on seat. At the end, he promised that they would do the needful and today, we thank God that we recorded victory.
“There is no state or local government that imposed Chief Folasade Tinubu – Ojo on the marketers. It was because we accepted her, that is why she is occupying the position. It was the President – General of all market associations in Nigeria, that capped her. Can any local government chairman or state governor challenge her?
“lt should not be this time that Daini shoud be bold to be confronting marketers, because we are the people that always comply with directives and totally obedient and loyal. It is not about money or juju. We usually force ourselves to get everything that the government wants us to get like LASRRA, voters’ card, NIN and others”, he said.
Meanwhile, in an interview on the matter, with the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, he said that the issue of requesting for certificates from the existing Iyalojas and Babalojas does not have anything to do with the controversies surrounding the Iyaloja – General.
While insisting that the council must have input in who emerges as Iyaloja or Babaloja, the council chairman also said that he has no interest in whosoever becomes the iyaloja- General.
“The foundation of all that they are saying is lie. They are mixing things up. The issue of certificates did not even emanate from me. It was Baba Aina (the Babaloja of Igbogbo) and the Iyalode of Igbogbo, that raised the issue that we should know the markets that we have. I only called the Council Manager to write letters to them to that effect.
“This was even when there was no contention over the Iyaloja General. In fact, when the issue of the Iyaloja General started, I went to their meeting and I told them that I don’t have any interest in it and even till now, I still do not have any interest in it. I am not interested. My only interest is strictly the due process.
“If you want to pick an Iyaloja, let’s follow the due process.
“The Ogunmuyiwa that was talking made himself the Babaloja. I don’t know which market he is Babaloja of. If the council did not have no role to play in who emerges as the head of the market, how did he emerge as the Babaloja?
“The council made him the Babaloja.
“For me, I am not aware that there is Iyaloja General yet, because going by the process that he mentioned, that after the appointment of an Iyaloja- General by the market people, they will inform the council, nobody has informed the council and nobody has informed me”, he said.
While denying that there was a time that a committee was sent to inform him about the decision of the market association on the emergence of a new Iyaloja- General, Daini added that the best way to communicate such an important development to a government is through a correspondence.
He also stated that the council, under his administration, is not aware of the emergence of any Iyaloja -General.
“The only time that they sent anybody to me was when they came to solicit for financial assistance. You were here (pointing to his Council Manager) which the council granted and gave them N1milion.
“Apart from that day, nobody was sent here. Some of their principal officers were also here to report what they discussed at their meeting to me.
“There is no meeting that they held that I don’t get to know whatever that they discuss there.
“Meanwhile, governance is not about words of mouth, you must make it official. They actually dropped a letter for the request for money for the burial of late Iyaloja. They did not see me. It was their letter that I saw and I sent for the Council Manager (CM) and we discussed it.
“Seeing me is not even necessary, what they should have done is to put up a letter and drop it at the office.
“It is only after that is done, that I will see such a letter and I will call them to discuss it.
“In governance, what is required is a letter. Anything that they want to do, it is through correspondence.
“As far as the council is concerned, we are not aware of any new Iyaloja General”, he reaffirmed.
Responding to the issue of certificate which the former council chairman said that he ordered them to produce when a committee from the market came to the council to inform him about the selection of Alhaja Ashake Wahab as the new Iyaloja General, the council boss and the Council Manager explained that the request is within the power of the council to regulate the market.
“I was part of those that raised it, that it is normal for us to know the number of Iyalojas and Babalojas that we have, and there is no reason for us not to have such certificates in our files”, the council manager said.
“The truth is that, we are the only legal body that can issue certificates to them. If it is the council that has the power to issue the certificate, is it too much for me to say let’s see your certificates?”, the council boss asked.
“All that we are saying is that let’s have your certificates. It was here that we raised the issue. We know one or two of them.
“The request was that if they find it, they should bring it for us to make copies for our records. That has nothing to do with the issue of Iyaloja.
“The CM wrote a letter to the Babaloja, to that effect. Why this is happening is because the majority of them don’t have it.
“What happened is that the majority of them are not known to the council.
“This is an organization that, in the last four to five years, there is no month that I did not release money to host their meetings.
“If the external auditor requests to know the people that we are funding monthly, I should be able to show them that these are their certificates.
The Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA chairman also said that there are eight markets within the council, against the 27 alluded to by the Babaloja – General.
“To the best of my knowledge, we don’t have 27 markets in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA. We have about eight or nine markets. They are Bayeku, Oreta, Offin, Elepe, Kaniyi Owode, Adeboruwa, Ibeshe and Sosanya markets.
“Those that they are referring to as Iyalojas are head of associations like plank sellers, pepper sellers, vegetable sellers among others. Does that make these heads of associations Iyalojas.
“The truth about this is that, how do we have a normal situation. Heads of associations are sub – sectors of a market. Nobody is disputing that, but they are not Iyalojas”.
When asked about the situation regarding the Iyaloja – General that was capped by the Iyaloja General of Lagos State, Chief Folashade Tinubu -Ojo, Daini emphasized that due process must be adhered to, while also re-emphasising the role that the council must play for such to have recognition.
“What I want to hold on to is due process. With that process, they should know what is next. If they pick among themselves, they must notify the council. The council must give a go ahead before going for capping.
“If, in a process, a particular step which is major and is in the first schedule of the Nigerian constitution that the local government shall regulate, maintain and manage, has been jumped…..
“There is Lagos State Market Association Laws and also, Lagos State Market Advisory Laws. All these laws are cleared, the process of market management, regulation and coordination lies with the council.
“In fact, the truth about it is that, the council must give a certificate before capping.
“In an election, a certificate of return must be given by the INEC before anybody can be sworn in.
“If they want to crown an Oba in a town, the kingmakers will approach the council which will, in turn, notify the state that we have picked an Oba for approval. After the approval, the Governor will not give his approval directly to the Kingmakers but get back to the council.
“The presentation of the staff of the office will be done in the presence of the council chairman. It was never in absentia.
“The truth is that the approval of the government preceeds the crowning of a King. So, in a situation where you jump the council and the governor and crown your preferred candidate, you have no Oba yet”, he said.
While affirming that the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, briefed him about the emergence of a new Iyaloja- General, Daini insisted that due process must be followed.
“The truth is that Kabiyesi briefed me about some things, but it has not been officially communicated from any angle.
“There is no official communication and as a government, we cannot rule with words of mouth. I must govern with correspondence. There must be a letter that I will send to my CM, and he will forward it to the chieftaincy officer or to the market officer or the HoD. That is minuting the correspondence; that is governance”, he said.
Speaking further, Builder Daini said:
“My message to the people is clear, there is no issue, no faceoff and no controversy. What the government is asking for is due process.
“We are in an organized society, which is governed by rules and laws. What we are saying is that the due process must be followed, because jumping one is tantamount to starting the process all over again.
“If I jump the process, I will be found wanting and there is no excuse or ignorance before the law. Not even when the Director Market in Lagos State, Mr Kakawa who is equally the secretary to the Lagos State Market Board, had attended a meeting with us in this council and explained the rules and the laws to us.
“Everything is fine, but things must be done correctly and because we have the constitutional responsibility, to regulate the market, we will regulate it. We will not be intimidated or harassed. We will do what is correct and not go out of our bounds. We are not questioning the traditional institution or the royal power, but we will adhere to what has been given to us as constitutional power”, he said emphatically.
