The Babaloja-General of Oyo state, Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh has refuted the statement made on Fresh FM radio, anchored by Abolade Salami on Sunday morning, that failure of Ibadan Rice traders/sellers to fulfill their obligations to officers of the Nigerian Customs responsible for the persistent invasion of markets in Ibadan by officers of the Nigerian Customs.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Monday, Alhaji Jimoh, who also is the Babaloja-General of the 11 local government councils in Ibadanland, President of Oyo State Market Men and Women and Babaloja-General of Bodija International Market, described the statement as reckless and unjust.
“I received several calls from traders, coIleagues, family and friends who got disturbed by the utterances of the man who was on Fresh FM programme yesterday. Fortunately I also listened to same programme in which one of the discussants made a reckless statement not expected from a responsible person, especially on air; moreso that he claimed to be representing traders.
“I wouldn’t know if the man who anchored the programme asked of the personal data or has visited the shop of the man he picked to speak on behalf of traders. On the other hand, let’s assumed he forced his way in while the programme was on, the person anchoring the programme ought to have asked of his full details including shop name, number and the market where his shop located considering the sensitivity of the statement made by him. Which association does he belong to? Who authorised him to speak on behalf of traders, or rice sellers?
“As at today I am one of the rice sellers in Oyo State, Ibadan in particular, besides, I remain the authentic Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Babaloja-General for the 11 local government councils in Ibadanland, by virtue of my previous positions and the authority that installed me as Babaloja-General of Oyo State, all markets in Ibadan are within my jurisdiction; with all this credentials I was never invited to speak for my people and the business I invested so much on,” Babaloja-General lamented.
“We are not importers of rice, so, how come we would be thinking of settling officers of the Nigerian Customs. We buy our goods here in Nigeria, from major dealers and sell in retail. How rice get to Nigeria is not of our concern, so what would have warranted settling customs officers with our hard earned money? Alhaji Jimoh questioned.
