Don’t allow market women’s politics distract you from work you were elected to do – Oba of Benin tells Tinubu, Okpebholo
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, not to allow market women politics to distract them from the work they were elected to do for Nigerians and Edo people.
DAILY POST reports that the Benin monarch made the appeal in a statement by the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin City.
The statement was signed by Chief Norense Ozigbo-Esere, the Osuma of Benin; Chief Osaro Idah, Obazelu of Benin; Chief Okunoghae Edomwandagbon, Ine of Benin; Chief Edionwe Oliha, Oliha of Benin; Chief Ada Igbinovia, Eribo of Benin; and Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council.
The monarch’s appeal was in reaction to the controversial inauguration of Pastor Josephine Ivbaguezejele as Iyeki, the market woman leader in the state, by Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu, on October 2, 2025, at the Edo State Government House.
He noted that the Palace had for some time observed that markets have become a veritable tool in the hands of partisan politicians and unscrupulous individuals who use them for personal benefit.
The royal father opined that the practice of using associations in negative ways in the markets has also contributed immensely to the rise in food prices, thereby seriously impacting the efforts of Mr. President to bring food prices down.
“This situation has persisted since even long before the present administration. While the Palace takes a dim view of such an alien concept of ‘Iyaloja’ being introduced into the market system of Edo culture, it is also pertinent to point out that the Palace has serious reservations about the tendency of market women allowing themselves to be used as political pawns in the political field under the aegis of market associations in Edo State.
“The Palace has received numerous complaints that the practice of using associations in negative ways in the markets has also contributed immensely to the rise in prices of foodstuffs, thereby seriously impacting the efforts of Mr. President to bring food prices down.
“While the Palace maintains its position that the ‘Iyaloja’ concept is alien to the culture of Benin, the Palace also frowns at the use of trade associations to run open markets and to play partisan politics.
“These twin factors are antithetical and inimical to the essence of our market tradition in Benin culture,” he said.
The Oba also appealed to the market women and the politicians behind them to desist from dragging the sanctity of the name of the Oba into their partisan political affairs.
“We hear comments such as ‘the Oba’s word is final’ in this Iyaloja saga, but did the market women respect and observe this in previous administrations when they allowed themselves to be used as political pawns?
“While stating that there is nothing like ‘Iyeki General’ in Benin, which the Iyaloja concept seems to imply, he stressed that in Benin culture, the Iyeki emerges from among the market women.
“He further stated that after being chosen by the women, the Iyeki is brought to the Palace for confirmation, and once confirmed, she is thereafter installed as the Iyeki of the market.
“The traditional ruler, who likened the process of installing an Iyeki to that of an Odionwere of a village, declared that the Palace never chooses anybody as Iyeki for the market women.
“The Palace never chooses anybody as Iyeki. It is the market women that do that. Every Iyeki is independent of each other. Every Iyeki is culturally, spiritually, and religiously tied to the Palace.
“There is a direct functional relationship between the Iyeki and the Palace.
“Just as there is no honorary chieftaincy title in Benin culture, so also there is no honorary Iyeki title in Benin culture.
“Every Iyeki has a spiritual function she performs for the Palace and for the well-being of the market,” he added.
He, however, advised that the function of the Iyeki should not be politicized, noting that any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of peace.
“It behoves the Benin Traditional Council to advise the State Government to please take cognizance of this and avoid a breakdown of law and order,” he stated.