— Insists only recognised structure remains the Oyo State Market Leaders Council
A group of market stakeholders in Oyo State has faulted the recent position of the state government on the leadership structure of traders, describing the official statement as “one-sided, selective, and an attempt to validate a contested process.”
The group, reacting to the publication titled “Oyo Govt Reaffirms Position on Market Leadership Process, Babaloja-General-in-Council in Oyo State” issued by the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, insisted that the government’s account failed to reflect the full position of traders across the state.
According to the market leaders, the government’s reliance on the 2020 Market Leaders’ Council Law and the 2022 court judgment was “politicised in interpretation,” arguing that the process leading to the recognition of Alhaji (Chief) Yekini Abass Oladapo as Babaloja-General remains widely disputed among stakeholders.
The group maintained that the only legitimate and widely accepted coordinating structure in the state remains the Oyo State Market Leaders Council, stressing that any other council arrangement being referenced in official communications lacks full stakeholder endorsement and grassroots legitimacy.
They further alleged that the selection process of the Babaloja-General-in-Council was not inclusive, insisting that several major market blocs across local government areas were either sidelined or not properly consulted during the exercise. This, they said, has continued to fuel tension within the trading community.
Reaffirming their stance, the market group passed a fresh vote of no confidence on the leadership of YK Abass and the claimed Babaloja-in-Council structure, declaring that it no longer represents the collective interest of traders in the state.
The stakeholders also called on the government of Oyo State, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, to reopen consultations and initiate what they described as a “truly transparent and all-inclusive process” that reflects the diversity of market associations across the 33 local government areas.
They warned that continued recognition of a “disputed leadership structure” could deepen divisions within markets and undermine ongoing efforts to maintain peace and commercial stability in the state.
The group urged the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry to act as a neutral arbiter rather than a party to what they described as an “ongoing legitimacy crisis” in the state’s market leadership architecture.
As tensions persist, stakeholders are calling for urgent dialogue to prevent further escalation within the trading community, insisting that only a broadly acceptable and genuinely elected structure can guarantee lasting harmony among traders in Oyo State.
