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By FunmiAjumobi &Elizabeth Uwandu

The Iyaloja General, Nigeria, Chief MrsFolashadeTinubuOjo has said market leaders will continue to be denied the recognition, opportunities and entitlements of the government if they allowed disunity to reign among them.

She made this known recently at a courtesy visit paid to her byThe Market Leaders  Association of Nigeria, TMLAN led  by its national president, Amb. Charles Obih, in the company of key officers of the association.

Market Leaders Association of Nigeria, TMLAN, during a courtesy vist to Chief Mrs Folashade TinubuOjo, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria in Lagos.

Iyaloja General who sued for peace among the market leaders irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation noted that disunity in the union was the reason some politicians siphoned and reap the labour of the union. Her words, “   We are one family. The reason why the government do not take market leaders serious is due to the division among us. And this has made some politicians to reap where they do not sow .“Until we are able to put our heads together and speak with one voice, and stand as one body, that is when the government will take us serious and give us what befits us.” Added Chief TinubuOjo

Lamenting the often neglect of the masses by elected leaders, the Market Leader opined that, “ Political affiliations do not matter in this association. As market leaders, we are not politicians, but professionals in our own rights. What we don’t know is that a good leader is a servant. It is painful that as market leaders we work hard in our own little ways to put our leaders into position. But due to our disunity, our leaders are toiling with us. Not minding that we are a force to reckon with in any place.”

The Iyaloja General used the occasion to assure the market leaders of her support not only in promoting the unity of the association, but also in assisting them to access loans from corporate and government bodies.

For the national president of market leaders association ,Amb. Obihwho commended the Iyaloja of Nigeria for her contributions to market issues in the country and thanked the federal government’s initiative in giving loads to market leaders through the Bank of Industry , BOI.

Obihwho said the association’s visit to Iyaloja General is to commend  her good works, and also partner with her to move the trading community in Lagos and in Nigeria forward. He added that though  the effort of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is appreciated for making the Bank of Industry to grant loans to traders, he pleaded with the government to deal directly with the association rather than use agents because  the loans are not coming directly to the traders.