Oyo State Government has cleared the air on the controversies surrounding the leadership of Market Leaders Council, an association of market men and women in the state, as it has begun investigation into the crisis bedeviling the sector to forestall further acrimony.
The leadership crisis among members of the association in the state is said to have predated the present administration.
However, commissioner for trade, industry, investment and cooperatives, Adeniyi Adebisi, said it is imperative to find a lasting solution to the in-fighting so as to entrench lasting peace among members of the body.
Mr Adebisi, who addressed journalists after an extensive meeting with members of the group at his office in Ibadan on Wednesday, urged them to work in unison to have the cooperation of the state government, adding that the present administration would only give support to any group that maintains peace.
He, therefore, informed them that the government has declared that nobody should parade himself or herself as ‘Iyaloja’ or ‘Babaloja’ of Oyo State pending the investigation and resolution of the crisis.
Adebisi said: “The present administration is interested in promotion of peace and harmony among the people of the State because this is the only way we can promote economy by inviting investors to the State and build commerce and employment opportunities.
“We would implore you to maintain peace among yourselves so you can enjoy support of the government, we can only give you your due recognition and support if you work in unity and support government to entrench security of lives and properties, this is important to us and should be important to you as well.
“Investigation has started to unravel the cause of the crisis among members of your association but pending the conclusion of the investigation and resolution of the in-fighting, there should be no Iyaloja and Babaloja in the State.”
