The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has threatened to banish any trader, market men, or women who sell food items and other essential commodities beyond the reach of the common people in his domain.

This move by the palace is part of its means of addressing the skyrocketing hike in prices of food and commodities.

The traditional ruler banned market associations and unions from fixing prices of food items and other commodities and also coercing members to sell at particular rates.

He warned that anyone caught instigating the hiking of prices of goods risks outright banishment from Ile-Ife.

The monarch, while addressing all market associations and unions in the ancient town through his chiefs, announced the cancellation of all market associations, saying that traders are free to sell at their own prices.

The chiefs, in a video obtained by our correspondent yesterday, were seen delivering the king’s message to a crowd of traders who gathered at a marketplace in the town.

Oba Ogunwusi also ordered that a portion of pepper should henceforth be sold between the rate of N100 and N200.

The monarch also warned those selling seven cups of foodstuffs as a congo to residents to desist, stressing that anyone caught would be banished from the town.

The chiefs in the video told market men and women gathered that, “In the name of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the 16 Chiefs, the market heads (Babaloja and Iyaloja) of Ile-Ife should go and inform all market men and women in Ile-Ife that starting from today, Kabiesi has cancelled anything called market associations.

“Also, anyone who threatens or coerces another to sell their foodstuffs or goods at a particular price will be dealt with. Everyone should sell at their own price.

“Also, people selling pepper should not sell a portion for more than N200. The act of selling a portion of pepper for N500 should stop from today.

“For those selling foodstuffs, anybody who cheats customers by selling 7 cups as a congo of rice, once caught, will leave the city.

“Similarly, any outsider who comes to trade in Ile-Ife should be welcomed. Anybody who chases an outsider who came to trade away will be sent out of Ile-Ife.”

Recall that the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, had in May 2024 banned trade unions and transport associations in Ilesa.

The monarch said the extortionate practices of union leaders and the negative contributions of the unions and associations to the increment in prices of commodities are responsible for the ban.

It was gathered that trade unions and associations were in the habit of fixing and enforcing prices of commodities on traders at the expense of members of the public.

The unions and associations, it was gathered, often place curses on their members who sell their commodities below the fixed prices.