Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

A socio-cultural Yoruba group, Yoruba Council Worldwide, YCW, has threatened to shut down markets in Lagos State, especially computer villages over flagrant disregard order of the Iyaloja-General of the state, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo by some Igbo traders.

The group also called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to set up a commission of inquiry into the illegal activities of the said Igbo traders before it degenerates into a crisis in the state.

Addressing journalists at the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State on Wednesday, President, YCW, Oladotun Hassan, said the group would not tolerate deliberate acts to undermine Yoruba traditional practises by disregarding directives on Iyalojas and Babalojos in markets in Lagos and other Yoruba states in the country.

According to him, the action of the Igbo traders association in Computer Village over cease and desist notice on the Iyaloja-General on alleged imposition of market levies is aimed at attacking Yoruba tradition and custom through undermining the ancestral roles of Iyalojas and Babalojas in Yorubaland.

“It should be noted that if this sacrilegious and disgraceful act persists, we shall not hesitate to commence the immediate shutting down of any market that attempts to undermine the authority of the appointees of lyaloja General Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, especially Ikeja Computer Village Market in the defence of our noble traditional heritage accordingly.

“While we would not want to join issues with their legal representative, however, we are aghast and inundated with some elements of the Igbo extractions who have a premeditated evil agenda to cause a 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 Yoruba Land, lyalojas 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.

“Regrettably, in recent times we have watched with keen interest and disaffection the overzealous moves by some Igbo-led market leaders to overtake our markets through the back door of fraudulent misrepresentation, misinterpretation harassment, intimidation and deceit.

“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 agent of disunity before they will intentionally stampeded us into action by unnecessarily pushing us to the wall where the afterwards consequences are meant to be negative in outcomes. God forbid!”

He also stated that the group would be bringing Yoruba monarchs together under the leadership of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in a summit tagged, the Monarchs 2024 in November this year to be held in Lagos State.