Why Owa Obokun Banned Trade Unions In Ijesaland

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 on trade and transport unionism in Ilesa and other areas by the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. 

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the 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. 

It was learnt that the unions and association curse their members who sell their commodities below the fixed price by the association. 

According to sources at the palace, the excesses of the trade unions and associations were getting out of hand, making some stakeholders report them to the palace. 

Findings revealed that the palace had initiated discussions with leaders of the transport and trade unions and other associations on the need to allow an open and free price market. 

However, the discussion didn’t yield any positive result, forcing Oba Aromolaran to ban trade unionism and business associations across Ijesaland.

Oba Aromolaran, in a statement from the palace, directed all business owners in the town to continue their trade without fear of any association.

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The ban affected all transport unions and food vendors in the community.

According to the monarch, in the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER, on Tuesday, the ban will allow individual business owners to determine the price of their commodities without any influence or disturbance from any union or association. 

The ban has however stirred reactions from residents of Ilesa through their various social media handles.

A resident of Ilesa, Gabriel Olanrewaju, on his Facebook wall, said the development would give broad room for intruders to evade the community. 

Olarenwaju urged the traditional ruler to look for a better way to address the matter instead of abolishing trade unions.

He wrote: “Don’t you think that abolishing trade or business unions in Ijesaland is giving broad room for intruders to evade our community?

“This is just like stopping policemen from operating because there is corruption in the police system. Does that sound well? There is a better way of addressing the issue instead of abolishing them.