It was a mild drama at the Emir of Ilorin Palace on Wednesday when the popular Oja-Oba marketers, who trooped out to welcome the newly sworn in Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the palace, booed one of them for allegedly parading herself as the Iyaloja-General.
The whole scenerio ensued when one Alhaja Sidikat Akaje stood up to introduce herself to the new Governor as Iyaloja-General of Oja-Oba market, a move that spontaneously attracted negative reactions of the teeming market men and women in attendance.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, she stood up to call the new governor attention saying that she was the new Iyaloja General.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that, Alhaja Sidi Akaje and Alhaji Abdullaahi Saad have announced themselves on radio stations, parading themselves as Kwara Iyaloja and Babaloja General respectively.
They were also said to be seen dancing around jubilating from one market to another.
Reacting to the incident, the Iyaloja General of Kwara State, Alhaja Adenike Lambe alongside the Babaloja Tunde Jimoh condemned the development, saying the impersonators were trying to cause trouble among the market people.
The duo said, all the market across 16 local government areas of the state have Iyaloja and Babaloja and there is overall iyaloja and Babaloja General.
” We govern ourselves. We are not political association. We work with any government that assumes office. We are always in support of government.
” Those that gathered themselves to disturb the affair of the market association are just chasing shadow.
According to Adenike Lambe, all the marketers in the state have condemned the action of Alhaja Sidikat Akaje and Abdullahi Saad for parading themselves as Iyaloja and Babalaje General.
Lambe urged all the marketers in the state to remain calm adding that everything was under control.
” We can’t join them to disturb the affair of the state. We are ready to work with the new governor.”
In his reaction, Alhaja Sidikat Akaje told our reporter that, the market people appointed her as the Kwara Iyaloja.
“Government has not approved me but they will soon approve me that was why I was invited to the inauguration which means I have been approved automatically.” She added.
Effort to contact Abdulahi Saad proved abortive as the call put to his phone was not going through as at the time of filling this report.
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