Market leaders, Ibadan Chiefs, Baales, prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland and Oyo State has reaffirmed their support with Alhaja Sarata Konibaje as the Iyaloja-General of Oyo State.
This followed an alleged desperate move by a Group loyal to Princess Folashade Abeo, calling for another election by disrupting the earlier one which produced Alhaja Saratu Konibaje.
They thanked His Excellency, Engr. Chief Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, Speaker and members of the Oyo State House of Assembly for standing firms against acts of injustice by maintaining and supporting the clear results of the initial election and due process which produce ALHAJA SARATU Konibaje as Iyaloja of Oyo State.
They said there is no need for conducting another election since the election that led to the emergence of Konibaje as the Iyaloja-General of the state followed due process.
Sources said some people seeking cancelation of Konibaje’s election and conducting afresh another election of Iyaloja-General of Oyo State.
But the state House of Assembly through the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin was said to have intervened and disclosed that no need for another election since the one held was flawless.
The market leaders said conducting another election would amount to waste of time, saying Konibaje, who have majority votes at the last election remained the people’s choice.
“There is no need for another election because the one that produced Konibaje followed due process and was supervised by government agencies.”
They however thank the governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the state House of Assembly for their intervention over the tussle of the Iyaloja-General of the state.
Recall that eight of the 12 existing market clusters in Oyo State recently sent an open letter to the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde over the raging controversy on the Iyaloja-General of the State.
A copy of the letter made available to journalists in the State was dated November 20, 2023 and signed by 10 of the 12 market leaders in the State.
The media in the State have been observing the disturbing trend of who between Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje and Princess Folashade Abeo is the rightful Iyaloja-General in the State.
Like other press statements and documentary evidences in the kitty of media organizations across the State, the market leaders again in their letter to the Governor, appealed to him to ensure immediate ratification of the nomination cum election of Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as Iyaloja-General.
Titled ‘Appeal for prompt ratification of nomination of Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State’, the letter to the Governor was jointly signed by the Oyo State Market Leaders’ Council including their President, Alhaji Dauda Abiodun Oladepo; the Vice President, Mogaji Salaudeen Qarmardeen; the Second Vice President, Chief Mrs. Stella Olabode; the Financial Secretary, Chief Mrs Labake Lawal and the Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Yisau Kolayode Hamzat.
Others were both Ex-Officios, Alhaja Hamdalat Iyadunni Lawal and Alhaji Azeez Amole Najimdeen; alongside three other members, Chief Mrs Odunayo Kayode Danjuma; Alhaji Malik Adebayo Babasale and Alhaja Fausat Adebiyi, respectively