Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling All Pro-
g r e s s i v e s C o n g r e s s (APC), who goes with the title ‘President-General’, Association of Commodity Market Women and Men in Lagos, has taken over the leadership of the popular Computer Village, in Ikeja, Lagos.
Tinubu-Ojo installed Adeniyi Olasoji and Abisola Azeez as Babaloja (man market leader) and Iyaloja (woman market leader) respectively, on Thursday, May 2. The two market leaders are under the direct supervision of Tinubu-Ojo and are expected to refer to her on matters concern-
ing the Computer Village, said to the largest market for computers, phones and related Information Technology (IT) accessories in West Africa.
The installation of Babaloja and Iyaloja in the Computer Village took place notwithstanding protests by traders in the market, who argued that the Computer Village is a specialised market and does not fall into same category like other markets in Lagos,where the ex-governor’s daughter holds sway.
The traders who staged wide protests around the market on Tuesday, April 30, also claimed that Computer Village is an international market and that thetitles of Babaloja and Iyaloja were suited for markets where commodities like pepper and onions are sold. They had also argued
that people outside of the market have no right to choose leaders for them.
But Tinubu-Ojo waived aside the traders’ position and described the protests as ill-in- formed.
She claimed that, as the leader of all commodities traders, it was within her powers to appoint
leaders for any market, including Computer Village.
She also alleged that some officials of Computer Dealers and Allied Products Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), whose tenure she claimed had expired, were behind the protests. She also claimed that the objective of the sponsors of the protest was to perpetuate themselves
in power.
While inaugurating the new leadership on Thursday, Tinubu- Ojo tasked to see their installation as an opportunity to serve the traders.
She urged them to give their best to impact greatly on the traders and the market and also pledged her support for the installed market leaders to enable them to succeed.
Speaking to newsmen after the ceremony, she said the aggrieved CAPDAN officials had visited her on issues surrounding the installation of the new market leaders.
She said discussions to iron out all issues with the other party were still on-going.
“I don’t have any issues with them (protesters), they have been here; they came yesterday
after I addressed the press and they related their position”.
“I have had discussions with the former president of CAPDAN. I don’t have issues with them. The only thing was that, they should have come here instead of carrying placards when they got the information that there was going to be installation”.
“They should have come to have a chat with me and perhaps, we may have ironed out issues and understood each other. Dis-agreements are bound to happen, there is no way we won’t step on each others’ toes in offices, markets and so on, but the ability to manage the crisis is what matters,which is the next line of action.
“I have even told the Iyaloja and Babaloja I installed to revisit the issues with the other people
at a round table,” she said.
