The Secretary-General of Lagos Markets,
Deacon Lanre Ajayi, has put to rest the
controversy that trailed the emergence of
Mrs Folashde Tinubu-Ojo as the new Iyaloja
of Lagos, saying she fulfilled what was stated
in the constitution.
Speaking with Saturday Tribune
in a telephone interview, on
Friday, Deacon Ajayi admitted
that though it came as a shock to many people
when it was announced by the constituted
authorities that Folashade, the daughter of the
former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, would
be the next Iyaloja, she was qualified to be.
He insisted that what many people didn't know
was that Folashade fulfilled "to a large extent"
what is stated in the constitution guiding
markets operations and how a new Iyaloja
should be chosen in Lagos State.
"Our constitution states that a would-be Iyaloja
must be a high ranking-officer in the leadership
echelon of all markets in Lagos State. The new
Iyaloja, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, was until her
appointment, the Chairman of the Marketing
Development Board in Lagos State. By this
position alone, she has met the basic
requirements of the office," he said.
Deacon Ajayi further revealed that apart from
being the Chairman of the Marketing
Development Board (a position she still occupies,
it was gathered), Folashade also won the
support of over two-thirds of the markets' high-
ranking officers who were "constitutionally
empowered to select who the next Iyaloja would
be."
"I know that it is not everybody that will be
happy about the development, as no one really
knows what was running through some people's
minds the day she was announced as the new
Iyaloja, even though there was jubilation on that
day; but you can't deny the fact that she
fulfilled certain critical conditions," he remarked.
When asked if Folashade's emergence was not
synonymous with imposition of the will of
Tinubu, generally believed to be the strongest
man in Lagos politics, on the majority of the
people, Deacon Ajayi said, "I know the manner
she was announced was bound to raise
eyebrows in some quarters, but I believe she
was not imposed."
Saturday Tribune recalls that after the death of
Chief Abibatu Mogaji, the famed Iyaloja-General
of Lagos markets, rumours started doing the
rounds as to who the next leader would be.
The situation took a dramatic twist when the
Internet (especially various online magazines,
social sites and blogs) was inundated with the
news that Tinubu had used the occasion of the
fidau prayers (Islamic prayers made in honour
of the dead) held in honour of the late Iyaloja
to pronounce his daughter, Folashade, as the
new Iyaloja.
This was later declared as untrue, as more
reports emerged that Tinubu did not even utter
a word throughout the entire duration of the
fidau, let alone declare his daughter as the
successor to Alhaja Abibatu.
Many Lagos residents, including those who
made diverse comments on the Internet, have,
however, showed their displeasure about and
contempt for the decision, but quite a number
of others believe there was nothing wrong in
what Tinubu allegedly did.
Adeola Oshokoya, a resident of Ketu area of
Lagos State, said "What this tells us is that Lagos
State and its affairs are, indeed, controlled,
determined and monitored by this same man.
First, it was the imposition of candidates for
various electoral positions, now it is the Iyaloja.
This goes on to emphasise the notion that he
(Tinubu) has got the entire Lagos in his pockets."
Similarly, Ayoola Usman, a cloth seller at Oshodi
Market, insisted that imposition of an Iyaloja by
just one individual was not different from
tampering with tradition. According to her,
traditionally, an Iyaloja should only be chosen
and declared by a traditional ruler.
"First, I want to say that I am not against
whoever the new Iyaloja is, or where she comes
from; but the truth is that choosing an Iyaloja is
supposed to be the job of tradition rulers, or
chiefs. Tinubu is none of these, so how did he
have the power to make his daughter the new
Iyaloja?" She asked.
Some others, however, said they didn't see
anything wrong in Tinubu's daughter being
made the new Iyaloja, especially if she was
considered competent enough to occupy such a
position.
"The most important thing is for us to have
peace and progress, irrespective of whoever is
leading us as traders. Many of those calling
Tinubu names because of the emergence of his
daughter as the new Iyaloja are hypocrites;
many of them would even do worse if they had
such an opportunity," said Anuolapo Akintunde,
another trader at Oshodi.
Also commenting on the development, another
Lagos resident, Yemi Adeoba, said, "Senator
Tinubu always has a good reason for his actions;
therefore, I can bet it that the lots of all market
people in Lagos State will be better off with an
educated Iyaloja fighting for their cause up
there where decisions are made."
Folashade Tinubu-Ojo is said to hold a degree in
Business Administration combined with
Management at the Middlesex University,
England, and a Masters degree in Business
Administration.

http://m.naij.com/news/38677.html

Yeah Yeah we know why, because Tinubu said so. So save your breath!