By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Apparently dissatisfied with the current skyrocketing of foodstuffs and other commodities in the market, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has read out riot acts to market men and women in the ancient city.

The monarch lamented the high cost of foodstuffs and many other commodities that are plunging citizens into untold hardship.

Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke through his chiefs on Friday, canceled all market associations, saying that traders were free to sell at their own prices.

The chiefs, while delivering the message of the monarch, told the market women, who were also seen in the video receiving the message, that nobody should coerce or fix prices for others.

The Ooni also ordered that a portion of pepper should henceforth be sold at the rate of N100 to N200.

The monarch also warned those selling seven cups of foodstuffs as a congo to residents to stop, adding that anyone caught would be banished from the town.

The chiefs in the video said, “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 Ile-Ife that starting from today (Friday), Kabiyesi has canceled anything called market association.

“Also, anyone who threatens or coerces another to sell their foodstuffs or goods at a particular price will be dealt with. Everyone should sell at their own price.

“Also, 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 foodstuffs, anybody who cheats customers by selling seven cups as a congo of rice, once caught, will leave the city.

“Similarly, any outsider who comes to trade in Ile-Ife should be welcomed. Anybody who chases an outsider who came to trade away will be sent out of Ile-Ife.”

Reports said the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) 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.

Our correspondent 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 learned that the unions and associations curse their members who sell their commodities below the fixed price by the association.