The Oyo State Government has appealed to the two factions embroiled in the protracted dispute over the installation and recognition of the Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Alhaji Asiwaju Yekini Abass Oladapo, to withdraw the matter from court and embrace dialogue in the interest of peace and unity among traders.
The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, made the appeal when he received representatives of the two factions in his office in Ibadan.
The meeting came against the backdrop of the ongoing legal dispute and a referendum being conducted by the Market Leaders’ Council, which is being monitored by the ministry.
Adelabu said the government was interested in ensuring that traders operated as one united body so they could benefit fully from government programmes and interventions, particularly as the present administration approaches the end of its tenure.
He noted that several prominent individuals had intervened in the dispute without achieving a lasting resolution, stressing that the contending parties must now demonstrate a willingness to resolve their differences.
According to him, the government had opted for persuasion rather than coercion in resolving the matter.
The commissioner said the Department of Trade would formally communicate the government’s appeal to both factions and request official evidence of the withdrawal of the case for proper documentation by the ministry.
He, however, warned that the government might be compelled to take appropriate steps if the parties failed to act on the appeal after consulting their respective lawyers.
Responding, the government-recognised Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Alhaji Asiwaju Yekini Abass Oladapo, supported the commissioner’s call, urging the traders to openly discuss their concerns and work towards resolving their differences.
Oladapo said he remained committed to ensuring that his administration was peaceful and united.
Also speaking, the Babaloja of Bodija Market, Ibadan, Alhaji Jimoh, who is backed by the other faction, commended the commissioner for his intervention.
Jimoh urged the traders to look inward, make the necessary amends and restore unity within the trading community.
The meeting was attended by Babalojas and leaders of various traders’ and market associations across the 33 local government areas of the state.
At the meeting, representatives of the two factions agreed to work towards withdrawing the case from court and pledged to make room for peace and unity among traders in Oyo State.