Princess Folashade Abeo Nurudeen, the self-proclaimed Iyaloja General of Oyo state, has been accused of orchestrating an attack on a wedding ceremony attended by prominent traditional rulers in Ibadan. Hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons stormed the venue and assaulted attendees, including Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, the Oniroko of Iroko land, and other traditional rulers in attendance. The motive behind the attack was to question the monarchs on their support of Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision regarding the election of market council leadership in Oyo State.
Analysts believe that Princess Abeo Nurudeen’s actions reveal her thirst for power, and they argue that she should be held accountable for her involvement in the attack. Despite not being the rightful candidate for the position of Iyaloja-General, as she only received two votes compared to her rival Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje’s seven votes, Princess Abeo Nurudeen appears determined to oppose due process and the governor’s influence on the state’s market leadership.
The hoodlums, who were sponsored by Princess Abeo Nurudeen, conveyed a warning message to the traditional rulers, threatening to harm any monarch who supports Governor Makinde’s stance on due process. The intention behind disrupting the wedding was to intimidate the traditional rulers into withdrawing their support for Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje, who was elected as the new Iyaloja of Oyo state through a well-contested election.
The election was necessary to resolve a prolonged dispute between Princess Abeo Nurudeen and Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje over the position. The court and the government had instructed the traders association to follow due process, and Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje’s victory in the election was widely accepted by the traders. The traditional rulers at the wedding were ultimately saved from further harassment by the intervention of other attendees who rushed to restore peace and protect the kings.
An eyewitness emphasized the importance of respecting traditional institutions and resisting any attempts to tarnish their reputation. Princess Folashade Abeo had expressed her opposition to the governor’s stance on due process and insisted that the traditional rulers should support her instead of the elected Iyaloja-General. However, the majority of the traders have rejected her candidacy, causing division within the traders association.
Princess Abeo Nurudeen’s recent actions demonstrate her disregard for the wishes of the majority and her attempt to exert her authority over the traders of Oyo state. Her actions aim to undermine the legitimacy of the authorities, stakeholders, and institutions that advocate for due process in choosing the Iyaloja General of Oyo State.
Last week, Oyo traders gathered in Oroki, Oyo Town, and unanimously adopted Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje as their preferred Iyaloja General of Oyo state. The Iyalaje of Oyo traders, the Iyalojas of Oyo local government, and other high-ranking officers of the Oyo Market Traders Union have all thrown their support behind Saratu Aduke and rejected Folashade Abeo.
According to insiders, it was revealed that Princess Abeo Nurudeen has no presence or support among the traders in Oyo’s markets, and they refuse to allow her to falsely claim the role of a genuine trader in Oyo, let alone become the Iyaloja General of Oyo State.