Inflation: Again, Trade Associations Barred In Modakeke

The Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola has ordered the proscription of all trade associations across markets in the Modakeke area of Osun State.

This according to the monarch will reduce the effect of inflation on the residents and indigenes of the town.

Oba Toriola stressed that individual traders are free to determine the sales price of their commodities without pressure from any trade association.

The decision was taken after a meeting with Market Tradesmen and Women at the Ogunsua’s palace on Tuesday.

READ: Hike In Food Prices: Ooni Reads Riot Act To Ile-Ife Market Women

He enjoined traders to cooperate with community leaders in curbing the inflation.

Recall that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Dr. Gabriel Aromolaran II have also banned market groups in their towns over their roles in the current high cost of food items in the community.

The decision of Oba Ogunwusi was made known by the leader of market heads in Ile-Ife, Akinwande Olajire. 

Olajire in a video that went viral last Saturday said the Ooni has suspended market groups, as their activities have been fingered as the cause of the high cost of food items.

He said: “Baba Ooni and his Chiefs have been told of the unjustifiable amount traders are selling food items in markets in the town and one of the measures to check this is the ban he placed on market groups. 

“These groups are fixing prices for their members and we don’t want that. Traders should be free to sell at a cheap rate if they are able to buy at a cheap rate from farms. The groups have been banned.

“We have locked all the identified places these market groups are using for their meetings and we will keep monitoring them. If anyone is caught acting to intimidate traders for selling at cheap prices, such a person will face consequences.

“We also received several complaints from these traders about how motorists and others are extorting them. We will act on their complaint but they can’t sell at prices we consider too high in our markets.”