The lingering leadership crisis among traders and artisans in Oyo State has been laid to rest, DAILY POST reports.
DAILY POST reports that market traders’ associations in the state have experienced a series of crises over the past few years.
Our correspondent reports that the crisis in the associations has been resolved following a peace accord ratified and attended by leaders of twelve (12) registered clusters that make up the Oyo State Market Dealers Council.
The traders made these declarations via a communique made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday.
The communique was jointly signed by the following twelve cluster presidents, among whom are Alhaji Yisau Kolawole Hamzat, President, Oyo State Tradesmen and Artisans; Chief Odunayo Kayode Danjuma, President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS); Alhaji Dauda Abiodun Oladepo, President, Ibadan Joint Traders Association; Chief (Mrs.) J.T. Raimi, President, Associated Commodity and Foodstuff of Nigeria; Alhaja Amudalat Iyadunni Lawal, President, Oyo State Food Canteen Workers Union; and Chief Labake Lawal, President, Joint Traders Association of Oyo State.
Others are Alhaji Mogaji Kamorudeen Salawudeen, President, Progressive Tradesmen and Artisans of Oyo State; Alhaja Afusat Adebiyi, President, National Traders and Market Leaders Council; Alhaji Najim Amole Azeez, President, National Youth Traders Action Council of Nigeria; Alhaji Malik Jubril Babasale, President, Companion Traders Association; Chief Stella Olabode, President, Oyo State Association of Traders in Nigeria; and Alhaji S.A. Jimoh, President, Oyo State Market Men and Women.
The traders noted in the statement that the resolution was reached at a joint meeting held in the conference room of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives.
The meeting was attended by major stakeholders, including the presidents of the 12 clusters, the Babaloja and Iyaloja representatives from the 33 local government areas, and five delegates from each cluster.
The meeting, convened at the directive of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, aimed to foster peace among the warring factions of traders and artisans ahead of the monarch’s coronation.
In the communique jointly signed by the leaders of the twelve clusters, the leaders noted that all grievances had been resolved.
The communique reads: “Another major highlight of the meeting was the collective decision by all factions to withdraw all pending criminal and civil cases related to the leadership tussle across the state. It was resolved that all ongoing legal actions instituted by any trader or artisan in Oyo State should be withdrawn immediately, and evidence of withdrawal submitted to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives.
“We are committed to fostering peace and harmony within our ranks for the glory of our dear state and the nation. We shall also continue to pray and work for the progress of Oyo State.
“The leadership also expressed deep appreciation to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives for its consistent role in mediating the crisis and called on the ministry to speed up the inauguration of the Oyo State Market Leaders Council to ensure effective administration of traders’ and artisans’ affairs across the state.”
