A major protest started this morning at Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos following alleged plans to introduce Iyaloja to the largest technology market in Nigeria.
Technology Times can confirm that market stakeholders converged the market based in Ikeja, the commercial capital of Nigeria, and are headed to Alausa, the seat of power in the Lagos State to register their concerns over the alleged plans.
Technology Times learnt that plans are underway to introduce an Iyaloja, the traditional leader of markets in Lagos State and some other States in Nigeria, to become the market leader in Computer Village.
Market stakeholders say that the office of an Iyaloja has been non-existent since the creation of Computer Village and are kicking against the alleged plans to impose one for Computer Village.
Ahmed Ojikutu, President of the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) was seen leading market merchants and other stakeholders who are heading for Alausa, the seat of power.
Also seen was Iyke Nwosu, President of Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN), who is also leading his teeming members in today’s protest against the alleged plans to impose an Iyaloja for the tech market
Ojikutu, CAPDAN’s President who spoke exclusively with Technology Times says ”the protest is about people saying no to oppression, second slavery in Computer Village. Iyaloja is alien to us over time, we want progress and development.
According to him, “Computer Village is an ICT hub that is adjudged to be the biggest ICT hub in West Africa. We have not scratched 10 per cent of the potentials we have here, so why bring Iyaloja into an ICT market. Is there Iyaloja in Adeola Odeku in Victoria Island?”
Explaining further the CAPDAN president says ”what we are saying is that we don’t want Iyaloja. We want progress for the market. We can’t be killing ourselves by imposing Iyaloja. This is the beginning of things. We would want to stop this mess. We would still move further.”
According to Ojikutu, “we don’t want violence, so therefore we are begging government to come to our aid.”
On his part Iyke Nwosu, President of Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN), says ”this is the entire business community of Computer Village and we are saying no to the unlawful installation of Iyaloja in such an international market like Computer Village.”
For the PAPDAN President, ”we are not a market that sells pepper. This is the market that has to do with one of the moving thing in the world, that is ICT.
“So a group of people trying to install Iyaloja in the market is something we necessarily will say no to and its not fit to be.We are going to Alausa to get the perspective of the government because I know Lagos runs a system of participation.”
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