Market leaders and stakeholders in Oyo state have distance themselves from reports that the leadership of market associations in Oyo state has declared support for a governorship aspirant for the 2027 gubernatorial election in the state, under the opposition party, APC.
In a communique issued and signed by chairmen and chairpersons of twelve market clusters in Oyo state after addressing journalists in Ibadan, the market leaders also disowned Alhaja Saratu Konibaje for declaring her support for Engr. Remi Oseni of A.P.C for 2027 election in the State.
The leaders and stakeholders who believed that Alhaja Saratu Aduke only speak for herself and not for all traders in Oyo State, went further to query why she addresses herself as lyaloja General of Oyo State, requesting to know who gave her the title of lyaloja General of Oyo State.
According to the communique, all the traders in Oyo State have been directed to ignore any directive from anybody, including Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje, on any 2027 gubernatorial aspirant in the State and wait for further directives at the appropriate time.
“What authority does she has to speak on behalf of traders in Oyo State? presently we don’t have any Iyaloja General of Oyo State and nobody should lay claim to it.
“It is on this note that they declared their unalloyed support for the administration of His Excellency Engr. Oluseyi Makinde and applauded his pro-poor policy and his development projects all over the State.
“Stating clearly that they can only support any candidate presented to them by His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde for the governorship position of Oyo State come 2027.
Earlier while addressing the press, the market leaders and stakeholders denied allegations that the leadership of the association had received money worth millions of naira, to support the aspirations of a politician for the 2027 governorship race.
In his address, the Babaloja General of Oyo state, Alhaji Yekini Abass also known as YK Abass said no trader association under the Oyo state market leaders received such money from anybody
Alhaji Abass said the purpose of addressing the press was to come out publicly and declare their unflinching support for the leadership and administration of governor Seyi Makinde, noting that the market leaders in the state are solidly behind the governor.
“We are assuring governor Makinde that all the market associations in Oyo state are behind him, that’s why we’re all present here, we’re boldly telling the governor to relax, trust God and the association, we’ve been following him and will not stop now”
Alhaji YK Abass however appealed to the governor to reconstitute the Oyo state Market Leaders Council, to further solidify the operations of market leaders in the state.
He appealed to the governor to also extend his hand of love to the leadership of the market associations by donating buses to trader and artisan associations as he has done for many students, religious and farmers’ associations as well as institutions.
He appealed to governor Makinde to disregard insinuations and unfounded rumor in some quarters that the market leadership in Oyo state is not United and that it is against the leadership of the governor.
Also speaking, the Asiwaju Oloja General of Oyo state, Chief Mrs Julianna Raimi who commended governor Seyi Makinde for his giant strides in road and infrastructural development in Oyo state said it has been the style of any market and artisan association to always be in total support of any government in power.
Chief Mrs Raimi who is the market leader for Agbeni/Ogunpa Market also disowned the membership of some alleged impostor going about tarnishing the image of market associations in the state.
Others who spoke at the briefing reiterated their unalloyed support for Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership in his determination to transform, develop, reposition and maintain peace in Oyo state.
