Despite the stance of the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11 on the installation of an Iyaloja-General to superintend over all markets in Edo State by President Bola Tinubu’s first daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, she has defiantly inaugurated Pastor (Mrs) Josphine Isi Ibhaguezejele who had earlier been rejected not just by the palace but by traders as well.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the installation, which took place at the Edo State Government House on Thursday, and attended by the Director, office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Anani, implying that it had the blessing of Governor Monday Okpebholo, may put the governor on collision course with the palace like his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
Tinubu-Ojo and her entourage who were shepherded to the palace by Anani, however got a shocker when a visibly bewildered Oba Ewuare pointedly told them that such a position was “a bit alien to us here in Benin”, and went on to “educate and enlighten” them on the cultural role of Iyeki’ as it is called in Benin.
Informing the Oba of the purpose of Tinubu-Ojo’s visit, Anani said, “we are grateful to be here today. Today, I present to you the Iyaloja-General. She came to Edo State for the installation of Edo market women leader that has been chosen. And we deem it fit that we must pay homage to the Benin throne”.
Addressing the Oba, the Iyaloja-General said she had come to seek royal blessing for the planned inauguration of a new leadership for Edo markets.
Responding, Oba Ewuare lectured the president’s daughter on the traditional functions of Iyeki (market leader) who must first be introduced to the palace and confirmed before inauguration after being selected by the market women because of some cultural roles she has to perform on his behalf in shrines located at the various markets besides coordinating affairs of traders in the market.
According to Oba Ewuare, “Iyaloja is alien to us here in Benin. In Benin, you are in the home of culture; we have our culture here. I have discussed this matter with my chiefs and those that are knowledgeable. Do you know the role of Iyeki in Benin culture? Every Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace. Are you aware of that? Do you know that every Iyeki has a cultural role to perform inside every market.
“The Oba does not interfere so long as the Iyeki does what is expected of her in the shrine of a particular market on behalf of the Oba. We are not going to say much except to explain to you the concept of Iyeki in Benin.”
Chief Osaro Idah, whom the Oba directed to further enlighten Tinubu-Ojo said, “Iyeki is independent in every market like the Oba market, Ogiso market and others. The traders select their leaders from within the market. The Iyeki does more than the role of coordinating traders.
“There are certain shrines inhabited in all the markets. They play certain roles on behalf of the palace. After their selection, they bring the person to the palace for confirmation. The novelty of general Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and tradition. We just believe the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural thing, like you have other clubs.
“It is not in our culture to have a general Iyeki. Iyeki is particular to each market. No one has right to control the other in another market. The Iyeki in Oba Market has no role to play in Ogiso Market. The Oba established the markets for all in the society”.
