Martins Owoseni

Amid the high cost of food and commodities in Nigeria, prominent Yoruba monarch Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ọjájá II, has read riot act to market men and women in the ancient city of Ile Ife in the south-western Osun State.

In a viral video, Oba Ogunwusi, through his chiefs, cancelled all market associations, noting that traders were free to sell goods at their own prices.

The chiefs were seen delivering the message of the highly respected monarch, telling the market men and women that nobody should be coerced or fix prices for others.

The Ooni of Ife also ordered that a portion of pepper should, henceforth, be sold between N100 and N200.

Oba Ogunwusi also warned those selling seven cups of foodstuff as a ‘kongo’ to residents to desist from such acts, adding that anyone caught would be banished from the town.

The chiefs announced: “In the name of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and the 16 chiefs, the market heads (Babaloja and Iyaloja) of Ile Ife should go and inform all market men and women in the town that starting from today (Friday), Kabiesi has cancelled anything called market association.

“Also, anyone who threatened or coerced another to sell their foodstuff or goods at a particular price will be dealt with. Everyone should sell at their own price.

“In the same vein, the people selling pepper should not sell a portion for more than N200. The act of selling a portion of pepper for N500 should stop from today.

“For those selling foodstuff, anybody who cheats customers by selling 7 cups as kongo of rice, once caught, will leave the city.
“Similarly, any outsider who came to trade in Ile Ife should be welcomed. Anybody who chases an outsider who came to trade away would be sent out of Ile Ife.”

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