A Yoruba interest group, The Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye has kicked against the move by some Igbo Indigenous Traders at the Ikeja Computer Village Market in Lagos aimed at halting what it described as ancestral roles of the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo as an attempt to undermine the agelong tradition and customs of the people.
The group in a statement issued on Tuesday at a press conference held in Ile-Ife, Osun State signed by its Global President, Aare Oladotun Hassan, frowned at a recent Cease and Desist Notice served on the Iyaloja-General by the traders through their lawyer Femi Falana, alleging imposition of levies on the traders as they described it as a plot by some elements of Igbo extraction to tarnish her office and its sacrosanct roles.
"Our attention has been drawn to a notice dated 28th August, 2024 by some Igbo Indigenous Traders of Ikeja Computer Market, concerning their cease and desist notice to Iyaloja General of Lagos and Nigeria, Chief Mrs, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, over alleged imposition of levies on the market being served by Falana and Falana's Chambers on behalf of market Association in respect of the market levies.
"While we would not want to join issues with Falana and Falana law firm, however we are aghast and inundated with some elements of the Igbo extractions who have a premeditated evil agendas to cause war of attrition, mayhem and strive being calculated to destroy our age long traditional rites and customs on the ancestral roles of Iyaloja and Babaloja ancient titles in Yorubaland.
"In Yorubaland, Iyalojas are the traditional heads of the market institution being installed by the King with statutory rites and responsibilities to administer and charge levies on all the market women and men who are trading in all types of merchandise, goods and services like television sets, computer accessories, phones, building materials to mention a few, operating within all our markets under the appointment, installation and culturally control of the traditional rulers within specific the specific domain and state for development and peaceful coexistence of the market men and women.
"Regrettably, in the recent times we have watched with keen interest and dissatisfaction the overzealous moves by some Igbo led market leaders to overtake our markets through the back door of fraudulent misrepresentation, misinterpretation, intimidation and deceit.", the statement said.
The group further alleges plans by the Igbo traders to ignite inter tribal war in Lagos and other parts of the Southwest region.
"We are reliably informed and aware of their deliberate series of attacks and machinated decoy to use all manners of ill informed allegations to cause inter tribal war in Lagos State and other extended Yorubaland. Moreso, when it is on record that neither Iyaloja-General nor her representative in the market collect any levy from anyone in the market.
"Unfortunately, they deliberately imposed exorbitant levies on several small groups of unions formed within the market, while they bluntly refused to recognize the fact that the land of the market traditionally belongs to the Kings whose domain market situate in that area.
"We are aware they want to seize absolute control of the market, hence the bases for their deceits and agitations, saying Iyaloja-General sent someone to collect levies from them is completely a libellous and blatant lies from the pit of hell", the group said.
The group vows to resist every attempt by any group or individual aimed at ridiculing the office of the Iyaloja in Lagos or any other part of Yorubaland.
"Based on this premise, we unequivocally and laconically reiterate here that on no account should any attempt or manner being orchestrated by anyone in order to tarnish and ridicule Iyaloja stool either in Ikeja Computer Village market or any other parts of Yorubaland shall be accepted or tolerated.
"We further inform that on no account or attempted attempt should anyone halt nor stop the age long traditional practices attached to the official duties of Iyaloja of Lagos State and Nigeria while for records this stool has remained an age-long ancestral practices under the authority of His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and Permanent Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs who installed Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu Ojo as the substantive Iyaloja of Lagos State respectively.
"We wish to unambiguously and categorically call on all well-meaning and peace loving Nigerians to call these few Igbo indigenous elements that are radically laced with evil intentions, mischievous agenda and political vendetta, and that now presently fanning the flames and embers of war to desist from these anticultural and traditional establishment and erroneous misteps with immediate effect in order to avoid premeditated journey of perdition and futility.", the statement added.
They group further called on the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately set up an emergency commission of inquiry into the matter.
"Hence for the peace and progress of all, we stand by our conviction that it is time for men and women of honourable reputation to hereby stake their hearts to peaceful coexistence, harmony, mutual understanding and respect for the promotion of market traditional authority and by bearing in mind that they are the fundamental norm and native rite anywhere in the world even in their Igbo Land.
"We therefore call on Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State to set up an emergency Commission of Inquiry to investigate the remote cause, destabilising intentions and shady orchestration of these provocative few Igbo led elements and agents of disunity before they will intentionally stampede us into action by unnecessarily pushing us to the wall where the afterwards consequences are meant to be negative in outcomes, God forbid!
"Take Notice that if this sacrilegious and disgraceful act persist, we shall not hesitate to commence the immediate shutting down of any market that attempts to undermine the authority of the appointees of Iyaloja General Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, especially Ikeja Computer Village Market in defence of our noble traditional heritage accordingly.", the group added
Also contributing, the Iyaloja General of Ifeland, Alhaja Falilat Lawal, urged all ethnic nationalities doing business in lagos markets to remain peaceful and cooperative with established authorities of the Iyaloja General.
Meanwhile, the group has disclosed the hosting of its maiden Yoruba Obas Summit tagged The Monarchs 2024 slated for November this Year in Lagos.
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