…Congratulates Her, But Warned Against ‘Predecessors’ Mistakes’
The Agitators for Traders’ Rights in Nigeria, AFTRIN, has congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives in Oyo State, Alhaja Faosat Joke Sanni, and urged her to prioritize economic development, enterprise growth, and wealth creation that will make Oyo a model for other states, rather than becoming entangled in the lingering leadership disputes within traders’ associations across the state.
In a statement signed by the group’s Secretary, Comrade Nafisat Rasheed, AFTRIN advised the commissioner to pursue a path of unity among business owners, traders, artisans, and market men and women across the state. The group further recommended that she collaborate with professional economists and agricultural experts to reposition Oyo’s economy, rather than repeat the errors of her predecessors who, according to AFTRIN, prioritized politics and personal interests over traders’ welfare.
“Your ministry is the hub of stable governance. If any of your predecessors had proven themselves as economic problem-solvers, they would have remained in office throughout Governor Seyi Makinde’s eight-year administration. Who changes a tool that is perfect, productive, and reliable?” the statement queried.
AFTRIN also alerted the commissioner to recurring illegalities she has inherited — practices it said crippled both micro and macro-economic impact under past commissioners and led to the frequent turnover in the ministry.
The group said it had engaged traders across Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa zones after the immediate past commissioner failed to heed its advice. The traders’ consensus, AFTRIN reported, was the government’s “stubborn imposition” of Alhaji Y. K. Abass as Babaloja-General on over three million traders, artisans, and market stakeholders in the state.
Quoting Alhaja Salamatu Arike Saliu of Ogbomoso, AFTRIN stated:
“On August 24, 2020, Babalojas and Iyalojas from the 33 local government areas and five geopolitical zones gathered at the Parliament Building in Ibadan and elected Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh as Babaloja-General of Oyo State. The Oyo State House of Assembly acknowledged this. Five days later, Alhaji Y. K. Abass was installed at the Olubadan Palace by the late Oba Saliu Adetunji. Months after, a court declared Abass’s installation illegal and restrained him from parading himself as Babaloja-General. Yet, the state government issued him a certificate of recognition. Twelve Ibadan-based market leaders later elected him for the entire state. How can 12 people decide for three million traders?”
Alhaja Saliu added: “Most real traders cannot abandon goods worth millions of naira to chase commissioners for ₦10,000 or a few measures of rice. Those you see around politicians are political traders with empty shops. Ninety-nine percent of Oyo traders will never queue behind Y. K. Abass. Let him mention the markets he established or commissioned from the 1970s till 2020. He should also disclose the names and locations of markets he previously led as Babaloja, or the traders’ association clusters he headed as President or Chairman prior to his appointment as Babaloja-General of Oyo State.
By contrast, Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh served as Babaloja of Bodija International Market and as President of the Oyo State Market Men and Women Association before his election as Babaloja-General of Oyo State in 2020. He remains President of the association and Babaloja of Bodija International Market to date, having built his reputation from scratch over 40 years ago. Alhaji Y. K. Abass is government’s Babaloja-General, but Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh remains the traders’ Babaloja-General. We shall overcome illegality and injustice.”
AFTRIN said it will convene a meeting with traders from all 33 local government areas next week to chart a way forward.
