Eberechi Obinagwam
A group, under the aegis of Concerned Mainlanders, have called on the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene over plot to split Oyingbo market by a popular politician in Lagos Mainland, Monsuru Alao Owolabi, popular known as Batola.
The group made the call in a press statement signed by the Coordinator, Lateef Adegboyega Lasisi, also known as Agbeloba in a petition that was addressed to the National Leader of the APC.
The group expressed worry over the purported plan of Batola to impose a new Iya Oloja on the market, through the help of the Iya Oloja General, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of the APC leader, Bola Tinubu.
“It beats the imagination with a deep sense of worry that a self-acclaimed politician named Hon. Monsuru Alao (Batola) has been inciting our most revered Iya Oloja General, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, against the good and peace loving people of Oyingbo market.
“Our leader, sir, with due respect, we would like to bring it to your notice that Sikirat Ejide Sule has been part of your struggle since you were aspiring for the senatorial seat, with other party leaders in SDP.
“There is an evil plot, engineered by Hon. Monsuru Alao, to remove the present Iya Oloja of Oyingbo or better still split the market into two and introduce a second Iya Oloja to the market. We know for sure that ‘Oba kii n pe meji l’aafin’ and that is why we need you to the rescue against such draconian and autocratic moves by a man who has been assuming himself as the lord of lords in Lagos Mainland.
“Back to memory lane, after the demise of Alhaja Basirat Abeni Balogun, her vice, Alhaja Sikirat Ejide Sule, stepped in as the new Iya Oloja and was even issued a certificate of office by Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, backed by a court ruling from Justice Rose Ovivor of the Lagos High Court, stating that Alhaja Sikirat should continue as the authentic Iya Oloja of Oyingbo.
“As a matter of fact, our great late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji installed Alhaja Sikirat Ejide Sule as the new Iya Oloja of Oyingbo market. Even the Local Government Council issued a Certificate of Office to Alhaja Sikira. Hence, the imposition of a certain Aishat Majeobaje from nowhere will not be allowed to stand and we hope our great leader, Asiwaju, stands by us on this,” said Agbeloba.
In the statement, the group alleged that the said Alao has been at the forefront of some of the dastardly acts within the jurisdiction of Lagos Mainland, including the instigation of the Iya Oloja General against the leadership of the market while attempting to install a second leadership.
“Please, we Mainlanders will revolt if the truth is not maintained. The dastardly acts we experienced during the Lagos State House of Assembly election here are still fresh in our minds. Youths were killed and a lot lost just because this same man played the lead role of imposing his son on us in the APC primary election. Yet, we supported him and he won the election, after all, we know it is still an APC affair. We did not mind. We still tolerated him.
“Now, they want to adopt another Iya Oloja of Oyingbo to unseat the authentic one in Oyingbo, in the person of Alhaja Sikirat Ejide Sule. We will revolt against any illegality that is brewed by the machinations of evil,” the statement reads.
