Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
July 22, 2015 – Traders at Ijora Oloopa Fish Market in Apapa Local Government Council, Lagos have protested activities of Iyaloja General of the State, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, accusing her of causing division among traders and inciting hoodlums against leadership of the market.
The stakeholders who also alleged that she was aiding and abetting criminals, claimed she is doing it in connivance with some individuals in the market, bent on truncating the peace and tranquility of the state, particularly as enjoyed in various markets in the state.
In a petition to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, titled, ” petition against Folashade Tinubu Ojo ( The Iyaloja General of Lagos) for unlawfully ordering demolition of shops, inciting violence, aiding and abetting criminals in markets”, they claimed that the leadership of the Ijora Oloopa Fish market headed by Alhaja Afusat Popoola has been under constant physical and verbal attacks from the Iyaloja General of Lagos and her thugs for no just cause.
According to the petition by their lawyer, Akeem Toromade, dated 6th July 2015, made available to journalists, the stakeholders further claimed that some of them particularly the Afusat Popoola who is the Iyaloja of the Ijora Oloopa market has recently being observing unknown and faceless individuals parading themselves within the vicinity of her shops at the market and her residence.
” Even though we realised that you are just settling down in office, we are however constrained to bring to your attention the activities of Mrs. Folashade Ojo (The Iyaloja General of Lagos), who in active connivance with some individuals in the market are bent on truncating the peace and tranquility of the state particularly as enjoyed in our various markets.
Our clients state that while they recognise Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo as the Iyaloja General of Lagos State and have continued to support her both morally and financially, she is nonetheless determined on ensuring anarchy and breakdown of law and order in the market by causing division among the traders/ marketers, inciting hoodlums/thugs against the leadership of the market and aiding and abetting criminals”.
” The Iyaloja of Ijora Fish market was a victim of this arbitrariness and abuse of power. Our clients protested this illegal act and were confronted by the hoodlums of Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, headed by one Idris Aposhe, a renowned criminal with no stake in the market. The said Aposhe openly threatened life of the Iyaloja of the market. The matter has been reported to the Lagos State Police Command and currently being investigated”.
This development, they stated is worrisome as ” her life and limb have been threatened by Mrs. Folashade Tinubu Ojo and her supporters/ hoodlums/thugs and now lives under intense fear of losing her life”.
They were of the opinion that failure to act promptly on the issue may degenerate into a full scale breakdown of law and order in the markets and unnecessary loss of precious lives.
Copied the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command Headquarter, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command and Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the State, the petitioners appealed to Governor Ambode to urgently call Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to order and investigate her activities and that of her thugs.
They stated that their trouble started when Folashade Tinubu Ojo visited the market to commiserate with the traders after an unfortunate fire incident of 28th June, 2015 which destroyed part of the market.
Rather that show sincere sympathy, they alleged that Folashade Ojo used that as an opportunity to get at her perceived enemies and ordered immediate demolition of their shops without lawful authority.
The petitioners further alleged that one of the flimsy excuses of Folashade Ojo to justify her attack on the leadership of the Ijora Fish market is that they are supporters of PDP, an opposition party in the state.
Meanwhile, the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Folashade Tinubu Ojo has debunked the allegations, describing them as bunch of lies.
She also described Alhaja Afusat Popoola as a liar and a troublemaker, adding that she has been rejected by majority of the traders as the Iyaloja of the market.
Folashade Tinubu Ojo, who spoke in a telephone told reporters to disregard them. “Mama is a liar and a troublemaker, she has been causing crisis in the market and has also been rejected by majority of the traders as the Iyaloja of the market.
On the allegation that she incited thugs to attack Alhaja Popoola, she said such incident did not occurred, pointing out that those referred to as thugs are traders in the market.
