The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, has declared that the Iyaloja title is foreign to Benin culture and has no place in the kingdom’s traditional structure.
The monarch stated this at his palace in Benin City during a visit by Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Iyaloja-General, who had led a delegation to the palace as part of her working visit to Edo State.
Trouble began after Mrs Tinubu-Ojo’s team reportedly sought to inaugurate Pastor (Mrs) Josephine Isi Ibhaguezejele as Iyaloja-General of all markets in Edo State — a move that drew sharp opposition from several Benin market leaders.
Reacting to the controversy, Oba Ewuare II firmly dismissed the idea, explaining that Benin people have their own indigenous market leadership system headed by the Iy’eki, not Iyaloja.
“There is nothing like Iyaloja in Benin tradition. We have our own system. Anyone introducing strange titles is doing so for selfish or political reasons,” the monarch said.
He added that every market in Benin Kingdom has its own Iy’eki (market mother), selected in line with palace customs and supervised by the Enigie (dukes).
The planned installation also sparked protests led by Mrs Josephine Blacky Ogiamien and Mrs Florence Ahunwan, who accused some individuals of trying to impose a “foreign” title on Benin women. The protesting traders insisted that the Iy’eki institution remains the only recognized structure for market leadership in Edo South.
Oba Ewuare II reaffirmed that the palace remains the supreme authority on traditional matters in the kingdom and warned that any attempt to distort or politicize Benin culture would be resisted.
He urged market women to remain loyal to palace authority and continue to conduct their activities peacefully under the supervision of their respective Enigie and Iy’eki.
