Solagbade Ademola Olaifa, Public Relations Officer of Computer Village and Computers and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), has accused Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Lagos State, of making life unbearable for traders in the market with the influence of her father.
The traders staged a protest on Monday by refusing to open for business.
Recall that Tinubu-Ojo installed Azeez Raolat Bisola, and Olasoji Adeniyi, as iyaloja and babaloja respectively in the market in May 2019, which the traders vehemently opposed.
Olaifa, in an exclusive interview with Newsbreak in his office, urged the state government to call Tinubu-Ojo to order.
He said the installation of iyaloja and babaloja has brought sorrow and hardship to the traders.
The computer village PRO lamented that Tinubu-Ojo installed Raolat Bisola, who is from Edo State and does not know how the market is being run.
According to him, the iyaloja distributed flyers to inform traders of levies imposed on them, and uses area boys to collect the fees forcefully.
He said: “We want the government to tell the iyaloja general herself, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, that enough is enough. She should not come and destroy computer village. We have built this market for over 20 years and we’ve been enjoying peace with the host community. Installing this iyaloja and babaloja has brought sorrow and backwardness to the market and community.
“There are lots of levies imposed on traders in the market and I have documents to back that. They have circulated a lot of flyers that every member has to be paying a certain amount of levy. Even before federal or local governments impose any levy, it has to be publicly debated. When the local government wanted to increase their tenement rate, they called us and we came to an agreement.
“But this iyaloja decided on her own how much she wants to be collecting and she is using area boys to collect the money by force from us.
“We know this matter has been politicized. We are looking for someone, most especially the Jagaban, because he is the only person whose name is being dropped. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo is dropping Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu’s name to perpetrate evil as the leader of Lagos State.
“He is the apex leader in Lagos State. I don’t think he is aware of what is going on. I don’t think he’s aware. But they are dropping his name at every door step of every authority and when you hear his name, everybody bows down to listen to him and obey whatever instruction. We are looking for the opportunity to have one-on-one discussion with him and seek his opinion.”
Olaifa, who is also the spokesperson of coalition of 15 associations in the market, disclosed that they have instituted a legal action against Raolat Bisola.
He added that the iyaloja sent “her boys” to destroy and remove a gate recently erected at the entrance of Taiwo lane area of the market, after two shops were burgled during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Since the iyaloja came, she decided that she wants to take charge of Idowu lane, which has its own registered associations.
“The association recently did interlocking, constructed drainages and even ensured supply of electricity to the area on their own. They gathered money and decided to install a gate at the entrance of their business premises on Saturday after two shops were burgled during the lockdown.
“Iyaloja and her hoodlums and area boys, they came, destroyed and took away the gate. They arrested the chairman of Idowu lane business association and they also arrested chairman of Ogunbiyi community, which is the host community of computer village.
“We have our petition before the commissioner of police, Lagos State. We have at least three cases instituted against the Iyaloja. We are peace lovers and will always be on the side of the law,” he also stated.
While further questioning the installation of iyaloja, he said the state government has told the management of computer village in many fora, that it does not recognise the location as a market.
He claimed that Raolat-Bisola rules the market using hoodlums, who rob people of their wares and also sell fake products, which is giving the market a bad name.
Other angry traders who spoke to our Correspondent, lamented harassment since Raolat-Bisola was installed as iyaloja.
Duru Chinenye decried levies imposed on them since last year.
“This situation should not be swept under the carpet. How can someone come from nowhere and begin to dictate how we do things here? Our businesses are suffering. At first, we thought it was a joke. Last week, they started collecting N100 from every person selling on the street.
“Then we shop owners should be paying them N1,000 every month, for what? After paying for shop rent, you pay local government levy, one bill or the other. Then some touts will come and be demanding money from you,” he grumbles.
Another trader, John Ejike, while questioning the existence of iyaloja in the market, said computer village is an international ICT market, not where pepper and tomatoes are sold.
Jude Thomas, who is very bitter about the development, said traders will continue to reject the reign of iyaloja in computer village.
He said: “What is iyaloja and babaloja in a market where people come from other West African countries to buy goods. Let them go, we don’t need them.”
Ishola Bashiru alleged that the state government has decided to turn deaf ears to their plight.
“We have government but they’ve decided to pretend as if we are not saying anything. We don’t have government. Computer village is number one in Africa, but look at what is happening. We pay tax to the state government, pay for LAWMA, pay local government levy. The state know how much they generate here monthly,” he stated.
John Maduka, who sells on Idowu Lane, said the traders have the right to reject oppressive rule in the market.
“We are already paying for too many things. Now iyaloja came and started billing us. We have the right to say no to that,” he noted.
Reacting to the allegations, Raolat Bisola told Newsbreak in a telephone interview on Tuesday, that Igbo traders in the market do not want to submit to her authority.
She confirmed that her office imposed N1,000 monthly levy, which she said is for the maintenance of the market.
The iyaloja also said she is not aware of any litigation against her by the traders.
“Igbo traders in the market have vowed not to submit to our authority since iyaloja and babaloja were installed last year. They don’t want to be responsible for anything in the market.
“They will say they will not do this or that because they are under CAPDAN, or this one. We imposed the N1,000 monthly levy on shop owners because we have to clear the drainages, sweep the streets in the market. Or are they the ones sweeping the streets?
“If they are saying they don’t want iyaloja in computer village, they are not the ones to tell Lagos State what to do. Their matter is inconsequential.”
She added: “I’m not aware of any court case against me, but whatever they want to do, they should go ahead.
“On the issue at Taiwo lane, I’m the iyaloja. That area is part of the market I oversee, so how could some people decide to shut me out. I went to the police station, i explained to them and they ordered that the gate should be removed. That’s all I can say.”
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