A traditional ruler in Osun State, Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, Odugbemi I has announced the ban of market associations and unions in his domain as a way of addressing hike in prices of food items.
This is coming few days after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi threatened to banish any trader, market men or women who sell food items and other essential commodities beyond the reach of the common people in his domain.
Oba Oyeniyi’s chiefs were seen in a video obtained by The Point on Tuesday going through markets in Gbongan, the headquarters of Ayedaade Local Government Area of the state, and announcing the monarch’s decision to annul market associations.
According to the chiefs, the monarch threatened to severely punish any trader who goes contrary to his orders.
“With the direction of Olufi of Gbongan, we are informing you that market associations, unions of any sort has been banned. Nobody should go contrary to this order,” one of the king’s emissaries was heard saying while moving about the market with megaphone.
The monarch also capped the price of pepper, saying no one should sell beyond N200.
Recall that Ooni of Ife banned market associations and unions for fixing prices and food items and other commodities and also coercing members to sell at particular rates.
He warned that anyone caught instigating hiking prices of goods risks outright banishment from Ile-Ife.
The monarch, while addressing all market associations and unions in the ancient town through his chiefs, announced the cancellation of all market associations, saying that traders are free to sell at their own prices.
The chiefs in a video obtained by The Point on Saturday, were seen delivering the king’s message to a crowd of traders who gathered at a market place in the town.
Oba Ogunwusi also ordered that a portion of pepper should henceforth, be sold between the rate of N100 and N200.
The monarch also warned those selling seven cups of foodstuffs as a congo to residents to desist, stressing that anyone caught would be banished from the town.
Also, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran had in May 2024, banned trade unions and transport associations in Ilesa.
The monarch said the extortionate practices of union leaders and the negative contributions of the unions and associations to the increment in prices of commodities are responsible for the ban.
It was gathered that trade unions and associations were in the habit of fixing and enforcing prices of commodities on traders, at the expense of members of the public.
The unions and associations, it was gathered, often place curses on their members who sell their commodities below the fixed prices.
