Nigeria’s President-General, Commodity Market Women and Men Association, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, installed the popular Computer Village’s Adeniyi Olasoji and Abisola Azeez on Thursday as “Babaloja” and “Iyaloja.” At an elaborate ceremony in Ikeja, Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo installed the market leaders.
Some traders on Tuesday had staged protests on the market, kicking off the market leaders ‘ planned installation.
They claimed that Computer Village is an international market and that “Babaloja” and “Iyaloja” titles are suitable only for markets where commodities such as pepper and onions are sold.
The protesters, who paralysed activities at the market for hours, also claimed the market leaders were imposed on them.
They said that people outside the market have no right to choose leaders for them.
But Mrs Tinubu-Ojo described the protests as ill-informed at a news conference on Wednesday.
She claimed that it was within her power to appoint leaders for any market, including Computer Village, as the leader of all commodity traders.
The market leader denied imposing leadership on traders, saying that she only endorsed the market traders selected as leaders by stakeholders.
She alleged that behind the protests were some officials of the Nigerian Computer Dealers and Allied Products Association (CAPDAN), whose tenure she claimed had expired.
The market leader alleged that the goal of the protest sponsors was to continue in power.
Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo urged market leaders to see their installation as an opportunity to serve the traders at the installation ceremony.
She asked them to make their best possible impact on the traders and the market while praying for their success in their responsibility.
In order to be successful, Mrs Tinubu-Ojo committed to support the market leaders established.
After the ceremony, the aggravated CAPDAN officials visited her on the issues related to the setting up of the new market leaders. She told newsmen.
During her meeting with them, Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo said she expressed her disappointment with the protests and blamed them for taking action rather than engaging her in talks.
She said discussions were still ongoing to iron out all issues with the other party.
“I have no problems with them (protesters), they were here ; they came here yesterday after I spoke to the press and they related their position.”
“The former CAPDAN president, Mr Adeniyi Ojikutu, actually arrived this morning. We spoke at length and calling another meeting is the next thing for us.”
“I have no problems with them. The only thing was that instead of carrying placards, they should have come here when they got the information that installation was going to take place.”
“They should have chatted with me and maybe we could have ironed out issues and understood each other.”
“Disagreements are bound to occur, there’s no way we’re not going to step on each other’s toes in offices, markets, and so on, but the ability to manage the crisis matters, which is the next course of action.”
“I even told the Iyaloja and Babaloja that I installed today that at a round table we’re still going to re-examine the issues with the other people,” she said.
Many colorfully dressed market women graced the installation, who sang and danced to celebrate the new leaders.