The Benin Traditional Council has restated the Oba of Benin’s firm opposition to the introduction of the Iyaloja system in Edo State, describing it as alien to Benin culture and unnecessary for the smooth running of markets.
In a statement issued under the authority of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Palace emphasized that the Iyaloja concept does not exist in Benin tradition and warned against politicizing market leadership.
According to the statement, market leadership in Benin is traditionally overseen by the Iyeki, who are chosen by market women and confirmed by the Palace. Each Iyeki operates independently, performing spiritual and cultural functions for both the market and the Palace.
Recall that the Oba of Benin had previously informed the Iyaloja General Mrs. Folashade Ojo-Tinubu, daughter of President Bola Tinubu during a visit to the Palace, alongside the First Lady of the state, that the concept of Iyeki General was alien to Edo culture. Despite this, the inauguration of Pastor (Mrs.) Josephine Isi Ivbazebule as the Iyeki General of Edo market Association by the Iyaloja general was later publicized.
The Palace cautioned that attempts to introduce the Iyaloja title or allow trade associations to dominate market affairs could erode long-standing customs and trigger unrest. It also urged the state government to respect cultural norms, noting that prior consultation with the Benin Traditional Council would have prevented the current controversy.
While commending current administration for “doing wonderfully well for everyone,” the Palace stressed that the Iyaloja concept was unnecessary and carried political undertones that could divide market women and destabilize the system.
The Palace also criticized the growing influence of partisan politics in Edo markets, expressing concern that some market associations and leaders were being used as political tools, which has contributed to rising food prices.
Reaffirming its support for the state government and President Bola Tinubu, the Palace urged market women to maintain loyalty to tradition and avoid being drawn into political manipulation.
The Benin Traditional Council concluded by pledging continued support for the state government’s efforts while warning against importing non-Benin traditional practices into the state’s market system.
See full statement below
“This Palace Public Announcement is issued on the authority of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin.
While the Palace maintains its position that 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 anthetical and inimical to the essence of our market tradition in Benin culture.
For the avoidance of doubt, Benin Traditional Council wishes to reiterate that in Benin, there is nothing like IYEKI GENERAL, which this Iyaloja concept seems to imply. In Benin culture, lyeki emerges among the market women. After being chosen by the market women, she is brought to the Palace for confirmation. Once confirmed, they are told to go ahead and install her as the lyeki of the market. This is similar to an odionwere of a village being brought to the Palace for confirmation before installation. The Palace never choose anybody as lyeki. It is the market women that do that. Every lyeki is independent of each other.
Every lyeki is culturally, spiritually and, religiously tied to the Palace.
There is a direct functional relationship between lyeki and the Palace.
Just as there is no honorary chieftaincy title in Benin culture, so also there is no honorary lyeki title in Benin culture. Every lyeki has a spiritual function she performs for the Palace and for the well-being of the market. We strongly advice that the function of lyeki should not be politicized. Any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of the peace. It behoves the Benin Traditional Council to advise the State Government to please take cognizance of this and avoid break down of law and order. WE WOULD HAVE ADVISED THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF THIS SALIENT TRADITION IF THE BENIN TRADITIONAL COUNCIL HAD BEEN CONSULTED WITH MUCH EARLIER.
The Palace has observed that for sometime now our markets have become a veritable tool in the hands of partisan politicians and unscrupulous individuals to express themselves for their personal benefit. This situation has persisted since even long before the present administration. While the Palace takes a deem view of such 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 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 rise in prices of foodstuffs thereby seriously impacting on the efforts of Mr.
President to bring food prices down.
At this juncture the Palace wishes to appeal to the market women and the politicians behind them to eschew 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 observed this in the previous administrations when they allowed themselves be used as political pawns? Even when their then leader BLACKY OGIEMIEN was summoned to the Palace and advised to eschew using the market women as political pawns at the time. She was advised that no administration needs to fear anything if they were satisfying the people with good governance. She nevertheless continued to use the market
women to do her personal bidding and that of the administration of the time knowing how the administration treated the Traditional Institution in particular and the people in general in a very toxic manner. There is an old adage in Benin that “uvun re rhan iramwen elaro” meaning if there is no hole in a tree, deadly insects cannot find entrance into it to cause any damage”. The Palace is of the opinion that this is the case with way and manner that most current IYEKIS have been carrying on with one particular individual. We hope the market women headed by their IYEKIS would have learned their lesson now and know their traditional connection with the Palace and what is expected of them.
And learn to watch the mood of the Palace and go with it.
We want to emphasize that this administration is doing wonderfully well for everyone and do not need IYALOJA CONCEPT to guarantee anything. The Palace feels that if we were duly consulted about what the tradition says about IYEKI ROLE in Benin tradition all the ensuing controversy or tension would have been avoided. The Palace although not partisan, strongly supports state government administration.
We do not know the aim of this IYALOJA concept being introduced to Edo State. We hope if is a national thing then IYALOJA of Lagos (or Nigeria) must extend this concept to the other states in Nigeria before we can believe its authenticity and motive. We also have a question: Can an Edo woman be made the IYALOJA of LAGOS or of Nigeria? Can this concept of IYALOJA be extended to ABA, OWERRI, KEFFI, KADUNA, KANO, SOKOTO and other parts of Nigeria?
We commend, support and appreciate the work of the Governor and the President and, appeal to them not to allow the shenanigans of market women politics distract them from the divine work they have been elected to do for the people in general and Edo people in particular. PLEASE BE REST-ASSURED THAT THE PALACE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR STATE GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMMS. WE PRAY THE PALACE WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY RECIPROCAL SUPPORT FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT. THE Governor MONDAY OKPEBHOLO aka “AKPAKOMIZA” has taken HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OMO N’OBA N’EDO, UKU AKPOLOKPOLO, EWUARE II, CFR, OBA OF BENIN, our father as his father and HIS ROYAL MAJELSTY has reciprocated by taking the Governor as his son.
The Benin Traditional Council and the Edo people cherish this cordial relationship and we pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors that it continues to stay that way. AKPAKOMIZA PLUS EWUARE N’OGIDIGAN is a divine blessing to Edo State.
Long live Edo State
Long live Federal REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
OBA GHATO ‘KPERE.”
