The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, has once again kicked against the introduction of the “Iyaloja concept” into Edo markets, describing it as foreign and inconsistent with Benin’s long-standing traditional system.
In a statement issued by six senior palace chiefs, including Chief Edionwe Oliha, on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), the monarch reaffirmed his earlier stance that the Iyaloja title has no place in Benin’s cultural and market administration.
Recall that Oba Ewuare II had earlier told Mrs. Folashade Ojo Tinubu, daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of the Market Women Association, during her courtesy visit to the Benin Palace, that there was no Iyaloja title among market women in the Benin Kingdom.
The revered monarch used the occasion to explain the traditional market structure, highlighting the role of Iyeki— market leaders who not only coordinate traders but also perform vital spiritual functions linking the markets to the palace.
According to Oba Ewuare II, “In Benin, we have a special place for women. When you mentioned Iyaloja ― meaning Iyeki-general as they say. This is a bit alien to me. I just say, it’s a bit alien to us here in Benin.”
The BTC’s statement further queried the authenticity of the Iyaloja concept, asking why it appears restricted to Lagos if it is truly a national structure.
“Can this concept of Iyaloja be extended to Aba, Owerri, Keffi, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and other parts of Nigeria?” the statement asked, adding that it was unthinkable for an Edo woman to be made the Iyaloja of Lagos or Nigeria.
The Oba expressed that the palace would have provided the Edo State Government with proper guidance on the traditional role of *Iyeki* had it been consulted earlier, warning that tampering with age-old systems could disrupt peace.
Market women later trooped to the palace to thank the monarch for preserving Benin customs and rejecting the alien title.
Oba Ewuare II also cautioned against using market associations for political manipulation, condemning the fusion of trade and politics as dangerous to Benin cultural values.
He appealed “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.”
The BTC clarified that the palace does not appoint *Iyekis*; they are chosen by market women and later presented to the Oba for confirmation.
“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.
“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, Iyeki 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 Iyeki of the market.
“The Palace never choose anybody as Iyeki. It is the market women that do that. Every Iyeki is independent of each other. Every Iyeki is culturally, spiritually, and religiously tied to the Palace.
“There is a direct functional relationship between Iyeki and the Palace. Just as there is no honorary chieftaincy title in Benin culture, so also there is no honorary Iyeki title in Benin culture.
“Every Iyeki has a spiritual function she performs for the Palace and for the well-being of the market. We strongly advise that the function of Iyeki should not be politicized.
“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 do not know the aim of this Iyaloja concept being introduced to Edo State. We hope if it 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?”
