In a strong message that has stirred conversations across Nigeria, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to steer clear of what he described as “market women politics” and instead focus on delivering the responsibilities they were elected for.
According to a PM News report on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the statement—issued through the Benin Traditional Council (BTC)—came in response to growing controversies over the politicization of market associations in Edo State.
The palace expressed strong disapproval over the October 2 inauguration of Pastor Josephine Ivbaguezejele as ‘Iyeki’ by Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja of Lagos and President Tinubu’s daughter, at the Edo State Government House. The Benin monarch described the move as an attempt to import the alien “Iyaloja” title into Benin culture, a development seen as undermining long-held market traditions.
Traditionally, the “Iyeki” (market head) in Benin is chosen by the market women themselves under the cultural and spiritual guidance of the Oba’s palace — not through political appointments. The palace stated that introducing titles like “Iyeki General” or “Iyaloja” runs “against the spirit of Benin customs and threatens the peace and dignity of the market system.”
The Edo Art and Cultural Heritage Institute (EACHI) also backed the monarch, reaffirming that the Iye-Eki remains the only authentic traditional authority recognized in the Benin Kingdom.
This latest development further underscores the ongoing tension between traditional authority and modern political influence in Edo State.
💬 What’s your take on this royal warning from the Oba of Benin?
Should politicians respect cultural boundaries or is this just another political misunderstanding?
🗣️ Drop your thoughts in the comment box below!
📌 Source: PM News
