Controversy has trailed the plan by the daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as Iyaloja Iyeki-General (general head) of all markets in Edo State.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo had on Wednesday, in the company of market women and the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, visited the Oba of Benin palace to inform Oba Ewuare II that she was in the state to inaugurate Ivbazebule.

The term “Iyaloja” is a Yoruba title that translates to “Mother of the market.” It is a highly respected market leadership position in Yoruba culture, particularly in southwestern Nigeria.

The Iyaloja serves as the head of market women and traders in a community, overseeing trade activities, resolving disputes among traders, and representing their interests before traditional rulers and government authorities.

The Iyaloja is often deeply influential, managing market affairs, enforcing rules, setting levies, and ensuring fair practices.

The current Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo, took over after the demise of her mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji. Shortly after informing the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II explained to Tinubu-Ojo that Iyaloja-General, also known as Iyeki-General nomenclature “is alien to Benin culture and tradition.”

According to him, the Iyeki performed certain cultural roles on his behalf in the markets besides coordinating the affairs of traders.

“In Benin, we have a special place for women. Iyaloja, meaning Iyeki-general as they say, is a bit alien to us here in Benin.

“I know this is an association. You gather yourselves together to be more powerful and harness the power of women to help the political class.

“You are in the home of culture. Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace,” he said.

While educating Mrs. Folashade on assigned roles of the various market women leaders (Iyeki), he said they would usually go round market shrines, report to the spirits by serving as spiritual rails, in addition to coordinating market women on behalf of the palace, whose authority the markets were founded.

Weekend Trust learnt that the monarch didn’t reject the president’s daughter but the Iyaloja nomenclature, which he said was alien to Benin custom and tradition.

The development has, however, been raising dust among various groups in the state.

The choice of Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as Iyeki-General, who is from the Edo Central senatorial, is raising controversy as Benin group claimed that the position is for Benin indigenes since the holder of such title has spiritual duties to perform on behalf of the Oba.

Shortly after the incident, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issued a statement signed by Dan Osa-Ogbegie, its publicity secretary, noting that Edo will not permit the desecration of its customs, and called on every Edo person to stand with the palace

“Market leadership in Benin has its own native process. Iyeki (market leaders) are selected by market women and confirmed by the palace, not parachuted in by outsiders,” the PDP stated.

Also, a Benin socio-cultural group, the Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide, dismissed the reported inauguration of Pastor Josephine as an Iyaloja (Iyeki), saying “she is not qualified to hold the title under Benin tradition.”

The president of the group, Mr. Iyamu Osaro and secretary-general, Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson, in a statement, noted that the institution of Iyeki was rooted in the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom and not subject to political or individual manipulation.

“The position of Iyeki is reserved strictly for Benin women. Benin women should begin the process of electing their Iyeki in line with tradition and cultural norms in preparation for the final selection of an apex Iyeki,” the group noted.

Meanwhile, a Benin indigene who gave his name as Osaauwa, told Weekend Trust that the monarch didn’t reject Tinubu-Ojo as a person but the Iyaloja title.

“The palace and market coexist; they don’t exist in isolation, so Iyeki requires an indigene of Benin because of the fear of a non-indigene polluting our culture,” he said.

He alleged that Tinubu-Ojo was trying to use the Iyeki-General as a political group to aggregate support ahead of 2027.

“The Oba’s position is clear: there is no Iyeki-general in Benin culture. Each market in Benin has its own Iyeki, and if you are the Iyeki of Oregbeni market, you represent the palace and take care of the Oba traditional shrine and customs,” he added.

He said that according to the custom of the land, as the Iyeki of one market, you cannot move to any other market in Benin kingdom claiming to be in charge, adding that Iyeki exists at different levels and in different markets, stressing, “There is nothing like Iyeki-general or Iyaloja-general in Benin kingdom.” (Weekend Trust, but headline rejigged)