• Monarch insists indivisibility of Nigeria paramount
• Wants aspirants to preserve nation’s unity
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II yesterday, sued for peace on the issue of space allotment causing disaffection among the traders, which led to protest at the Alarere residence of the monarch by a faction of Ogunpa Oyo/Onireke Traders Association.
Oba Balogun, who said he would not condone any act that would jeopardise the peace being currently enjoyed in his domain, urged the traders to give peace a chance by allowing the palace’s intervention in the matter causing mistrust among them.
A faction of the association, under the aegis of Ogunpa Labelabe Traders Association, had about two weeks ago complained to the monarch about a developer, who was set to claim the space being used by the traders for the purpose of building a shopping complex, which they alleged, would be out of reach financial-wise for petty traders like themselves.
But countering that position, President of the association, Mr. Isaac Bodunrin Folorunso, said that though the group that came earlier to the palace was part of the larger association, the leadership positions ascribed to some of them were fake and act of impersonation.
Folorunso, who was accompanied by Secretary-General of the association, Sunday Ogunleye; the Market Baale, Alhaji Tajudeen Ahmed, among others, said that all the fears expressed by the group had been jointly addressed, noting that their grievances were nothing but product of selfishness and lack of willingness to embrace development.
The association’s President, who accused the other faction of being frivolous in their agitation, said: “The space under contention is a car park on the approved lay-out and it was in a bid for the entire traders not to be thrown out of business that we assiduously worked and pleaded with the developer to convert it to shops for us, which we got with Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to back it up.”
He, therefore, appealed to the monarch to midwife a meeting between the two groups.
RELATEDLY, the monarch has insisted on a united and indivisible Nigeria, saying that any aspiring leader come 2023 must be conscious of the need to preserve the concept.
Oba Balogun made the assertion while reacting to the submission by a group of political leaders under the aegis of Nigeria Agenda, which paid him a courtesy visit at his Alarere residence on Tuesday.
The monarch said Nigeria would attain her expected potential in the comity of nations by remaining a united and indivisible entity, adding: “The greatness of the country lies in her oneness and unity and this must be the guiding principle of whoever aspires to lead the country come next year.”
Earlier in his speech, the Convener and Director-General of the group, Ahmed Sajo, said the visit was to sensitise the monarch on the assignment the group had committed itself to.
