Nigeria TV Info 

How Benin Palace Shut Down ‘Iyaloja’ Politics in Edo Markets

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, with backing from the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), has decisively blocked attempts to introduce the “Iyaloja-General” title in Edo markets—a move seen as safeguarding Edo cultural tradition and market autonomy.

Key Facts & Timeline

• The proposal: Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the national Iyaloja-General of Nigerian market women, planned to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as “Iyaloja-General of all markets in Edo State.”
• The Palace’s response: Oba Ewuare II rejected the concept as “alien to Benin tradition”, explaining that Edo markets traditionally recognize the Iyeki in each market—not a single, overarching “general” market head.
• Selection process: According to the Palace, each Iyeki is chosen by market women within the market, then presented to the Palace for confirmation. The Iyeki has spiritual, cultural, and administrative roles, including duties tied to the shrine in each market.
• BTC’s warning and cultural defence: The Benin Traditional Council issued statements cautioning against politicisation of market leadership, rejecting the use of trade associations or partisan influence in market governance. They emphasized that the introduction of Iyaloja threatens peace, tradition, and the cultural integrity of Edo markets.
• Reaction from market women and other bodies: Many market women in Benin City sided with the Oba’s decision, praising his defense of tradition. Cultural bodies like the Edo Art & Cultural Heritage Institute (EACHI) also supported the rejection of Iyaloja-General.

Implications & Analysis

• Preservation of culture over centralisation: The move underscores that Edo market structures are deeply rooted in decentralised, local leadership via Iyeki rather than centralized leadership under a title foreign to Edo tradition.
• Curtailing political exploitation: By rejecting the Iyaloja title, the Palace has attempted to close off a path through which political actors might mobilize market women for electoral advantage.
• Strengthening traditional authority: Oba Ewuare II has shown readiness to enforce cultural norms and intervene in modern political or social arrangements that threaten traditional institutions.
• Potential tension with state/federal actors: Though partly symbolic, the clash could strain relations with people supporting or involved in the Iyaloja-General system nationally. It raises questions about how titles with pan-Nigeria recognition interact with local customs.