*Group Rubbishes Oyo Tourism Commissioner, Olatunbosun, For Recognising Alhaja Sarat As Iyaloja General*

A socio-cultural group known as “Awa Ọmọ Oyo Progressive Movement” has demanded the immediate sanction of Ogbeni Wasiu Olatubosun, Oyo state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, due to his blatant disobedience of Governor Seyi Makinde’s order regarding the Iyaloja General tussle, which is currently causing tension among the state’s market traders.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday evening and signed by the group’s coordinator, Ifatola Oluwagbemiga, the group said that the Commissioner must face immediate prosecution for flouting an order of the state government and also abating Alhaja Sarat Konibaje in the fraudulent activities.

Recall that Governor Makinde had in May, ordered Alhaja Saratu Aduke and Princess Afolashade Abeo to stop identifying themselves as the Iyaloja-general of the state.

Former Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperative, Otunba Ademola Ojo conveyed the governor’s message to an expanded stakeholders’ council of the market leaders.

The governor equally told the duo to refrain from parading themselves as such pending when a final resolution would be reached and a name officially announced by the government.

At the meeting, which was attended by the two contenders, the commissioner assured that the order was in line with the governor’s vision for sustainable peace in the state particularly within the market leaders council in his administration’s drive for market development.

The development comes amidst a heated leadership contention involving Alhaja Aduke and Princess Abeo, who until the governor’s order have identified themselves separately as the Iyaloja-general at both public and private functions.

According to the group, it is extremely lugubrious to see an Ibadan man serving as the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism defying the Executive Governor of Oyo State’s order over a plate of jollof rice and cow leg.

Oluwagbemiga averred that Mr Olatubosun, a member of the kitchen cabinet and state council who is supposed to be in the know about government development, could allow sentiment to lead him astray even without realising the consequences of his actions.

He quipped: “Could Mr Olatubosun had done this because the Governor is currently on vacation? Or what could have really been his intention for stooping so low and going so far as to goof around in a ridiculous theatrical performance?

“Did he really realise how much his blatant disobedience to the Executive order has made the current government look foolish in the eyes of the public? “According to the program book, people who attended the Isese Day grand finale at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, especially those from the Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Oke-Ogun zones, were surprised, upset, and disappointed by the intentional inclusion and recognition of Alhaja Sarat Aduke as Iyaloja General against the Governor’s directive. But could ignore the recognized Babaloja General, Y.K Abass.

The statement noted that the commissioner of culture and tourism included Alhaja Sarat Konibaje on purpose in the program book of a state ceremony even though she had no official role to perform.

According to the group coordinator, despite the governor’s directives, this development has continued to elicit conflicting reactions from market traders who believe that the crisis that has long persisted inside the state’s council leadership has no end in sight.

Oluwagbemiga continued, saying, “The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism only wants to sow division out of selfish interest at a time when the government is taking decisive action to quell the growing tensions within Oyo State’s market leadership, which have crippled its progress in advancing its course.

“We hereby appeal to His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, to look into this and take necessary actions before such is repeated again.”

“To us, the governor’s order is entirely aimed at restoring orderliness. So, we will not be a party to flagrant disregard of Executive order.”