By Editor 
Following the recent and ongoing quest for the position of Iyaloja General of Oyo State, it is becoming clear that the choice of Iyaloja General of Oyo State must come from the standpoint of critical evaluation of the contenders.
This evaluation, no doubt, should beam its searchlight and consider the track records, market base, integrity, and aspirations of both contenders.
A prominent and highly respected market leader in Oyo state once said “I hold the opinion that our traders should look in the ward and never allow anyone who is not consistent and cannot even clearly point them to the direction they should go to play on their collective intelligence.
Let’s take it from the origin of both contenders:
While the self-acclaimed Iyaloja General’s origin has been contested, Alhaja Saratu Aduke’s origin has never been doubted or criticized by any quarters.
Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje has never pretended or misguided people when it comes to her origin, unlike her counterpart who claimed she’s from a place and there have been counterattacks and banters from different quarters. This is proof that anyone whose origin is in doubt cannot be trusted as leadership requires someone who can be traced to a source, this places Saratu Aduke Konibaje above her counterpart.
Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje knows the way, goes the way, and can lead the way to engineer a highly rejigged market that enjoys maximum benefit in the pursuit of an effective market economy in Oyo state.
She has a track record of being an active trader in the major markets of Oyo state in the last four decades, she does not need to merchandise herself to learn the rudiments of negotiation, in the interests of the traders and artisans under her leadership because her experience as a trader and stakeholder in the leadership of the trading union of the state in the last couple of years have positioned her as a force that can be trusted”.
If we consider their successes and achievements in their years of trading existence, Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje is well-to-do on her own and has a sound understanding of how to manage people as an experienced trader with a traceable pedigree.
Oyo market needs someone who is elderly, more mature with native intelligence blended with a listening ear to drive the needed change and development in the state.
The late Iyaloja general of Oyo state, mama Daisi was the one who appointed Alhaja Saratu Aduke to become her Otun Iyaloja based on the trust she has in her ability, this means that someone of her personality can be trusted and will never become a traitor to negotiate a selfish ambition that would be against the general interests of Oyo state traders in all the markets but would stand for the majority interest and express it till it is acknowledged. she was loyal to the core to the authorities ahead of her till the demise of the late Iyaloja General of Oyo State until this time, this is revealing to us that her service mentality transcend beyond positional orientation but relational.
She is a promoter of the peace and progress of the traders and the entire Oyo state who has served in many capacities, she has played huge roles in reconciling many disputes among traders while she was the Otun Iyaloja General of Oyo State, she has offered useful advice and mentorship to young and old among the trading unions in the state to help them find progress in the pursuit of their personal and business visions.
Her knowledge of maximizing relationship is also traceable to how she has managed her dealings with all quotes of authorities within Ibadan land and the entire state and this is why we can see how many weighty associations in this state, notable of which is the elders of Ibadan land through the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and many other clusters of leadership within the traders and artisans union and many other formidable voices in the state who have diplomatically drum support for her ambitions and hope to see her become confirmed by the Governor whom everyone knows to be very rational in matters like this.
The widely recognized support she got in the election held to decide her emergence as the recognized Iyaloja General of Oyo State where she won with seven clusters of votes against two clusters is another proof of her popularity and acceptance among her people and this point to us that they know who they preferred and her acceptance is not in doubt.
Interestingly, those contending with Saratu Aduke should not forget that Gov. Seyi Makinde is a master in handling situations like this, we all know the Governor to be very diligent when it comes to studying track records and personal skills of anyone contending for any position of authority in the state.
Gov. Seyi Makinde does not take sides with anyone when it comes to making critical decisions, He puts the people first. He is not just a politician but someone whose intellectual virility can not be doubted.
I believe the Governor is not unaware of the track records of both contenders and the reports of all the contributions of the two contenders to the development of Oyo state especially in and through the markets is on his table if we take a keen study of the personality of Alhaja Saratu Aduke, we would know that it is crystal clear she has the track record needed to lead the market association, her requisite knowledge and experiences coupled with the maturity to lead our people in the markets, artisans and traders association is also very glaring.
There is no doubt that Gov. Seyi Makinde is always well informed and would give Oyo traders what they wanted since the election had already revealed where the pendulum should swing”
