Following protests from tens of Ikorodu Market Men and Women from different markets in Ikorodu who stormed the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat yesterday, in protest against the alleged imposition of Alh Osho as the Iyaloja of Ikorodu Central, the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon Wasiu Adeshina has declared that his government would only recognize an Iyaloja that is approved by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.
Adeshina made this declaration while responding to aggrieved officials and members of some markets in Ikorodu who stormed his office in protest yesterday.
‘Market administration is the responsibility of local government as clearly stated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, any appointment of an Iyaloja-General without the input of the local government authority is not acceptable’, he said.
‘For all the screenings conducted for the candidates aspiring for the position of Iyaloja-General of Ikorodu, we in the local government were not invited, neither were we involved in the screening exercise’, he stated.
‘As it stands now, both the Iyaloja of Ikorodu Central, Chief (Mrs) Bukola Osho and the Iyaloja-General, Deaconess Busola Isikalu would only be recognized by the local government upon presentation of their letters of approval and recognition by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo’, he submitted.
Earlier, Representatives of the Market Men and Women who spoke separately had accused Adeshina of breaking their ranks by imposing Chief Mrs Bukola Osho on them as Iyaloja of Ikorodu Central.
They maintained that, since Deaconess Busola Isikalu has been appointed by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, based on recommendations from a screening panel that interviewed all the candidates, including Osho, there was no need for appointing an Iyaloja of Ikorodu Central by the local government.
Some of the officials of the Market Men and Women who spoke during the protest stated that, they were not happy that the local government has denied them recognition, while their members are being denied certain benefits from the local government.
