₦airaland Forum

Benin Market Women Celebrate Oba’s Courage in Rejecting Iyaloja Imposition by Tinubu’s Daughter

Market women across Benin are rejoicing and praising the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, for his bold stance in rejecting the attempt to introduce the title of Iyaloja into Benin Kingdom — a title he firmly described as foreign to Benin tradition.

The incident unfolded on October 4, 2025, when Oba Ewuare II turned down the proposed installation of Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as the Iyaloja of Edo State, an appointment allegedly backed by Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu and the current Iyaloja-General of Nigeria.

In his response, the Oba made it clear that Benin markets operate under a completely different structure from what exists in Yoruba land. According to him, market affairs in Benin are overseen by women known as Iyeki, not Iyaloja.

He explained that each market has its own Iyeki, chosen democratically by the traders and later confirmed by the palace. There is, he emphasized, no concept of a centralized Iyeki-General or Iyaloja-General in Benin culture.

The Oba further noted that the Iyeki serves both cultural and spiritual roles within the market on behalf of the palace—responsibilities that only true indigenes of the land can carry out.

Following the development, members of the Edo State Market Women Association strongly opposed the attempted appointment, describing it as a direct violation of Benin customs and an unnecessary political imposition.

They expressed deep gratitude to the Oba for standing firm in defense of their heritage and reaffirmed their unflinching loyalty to the palace-approved system of market leadership.

The recognized leader of the Edo State Market Women Association, Madam Blacky Ogiamen, also paid a courtesy visit to the Oba to personally convey their appreciation for his intervention and support.

The attempted installation of Pastor Ibhaguezejele, which had already taken place at the Edo Government House before Tinubu-Ojo’s visit to the Oba’s Palace, was widely criticized by many as a disrespectful and politically driven affront to the Benin monarchy.

Several opposition figures, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also condemned the move, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to exert influence in the state.

The PDP has since called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to issue a public apology for allowing such an installation to be held at the Government House in the first place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8BNDz8xfB0?si=58uM5bFMN9doZ5uu

Summary:
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has rejected the introduction of the Iyaloja title in Benin Kingdom, describing it as foreign to Benin tradition. This followed an attempt by President Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to appoint Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as Iyaloja of Edo State. The Oba clarified that Benin markets are led by Iyeki, chosen by traders and confirmed by the palace, not by any central authority. Market women and opposition figures hailed the Oba’s firm stance, condemning the move as political interference and praising him for protecting Benin’s cultural heritage.

members of the Edo State Market Women Association strongly opposed the attempted appointment, describing it as a direct violation of Benin customs and an unnecessary political imposition.

Oba gha to kpere Iseeeeee.
Oba Ewuare N'ogidigan II

Thank you for standing firm on the sacredness of the Benin Tradition and the Authority of the Royal Throne!!!!

That it is to say only female traditional priestesses can hold the position

When you don't know that the entire country is watching what is happening in lagos. Even oyo people also recently showed their disdain

seems like Edo women don't want Bullion van manufacturing company from Lagos State to extend their company to Edo .why will they not like bullion vans just like lagosians and Riverside

How much Tinubu dey find before he departs this world, how how much gan gan?
Cracks money no do you
Lagos money no do you
Nigeria money no do you
Oil money no do you.
Rivers state money no still do
Abuja money no do you
All Taxes no do you
NURTW money no do you
Lekki toll gate money no do you
All loan borrowed no do you
National assembly padded budget no do you.

If you stand before God and he asked you now you are before him penniless what is the essence of acquiring all those ill gotten wealth what will be you reply ?

I love the king for that maturity.It shows the king reject Tinubu campaign technically,if you know you know,his daughter will impose one senseless iyaloja they use will against the women in 2027

Tinibu's daughter should try her luck in sokoto or kano edo have rejected her trick to capture edo state markets for herself.

fuckingAyaya:
How much Tinubu dey find before he departs this world, how how much gan gan?
Cracks money no do you
Lagos money no do you
Nigeria money no do you
Oil money no do you.
Rivers state money no still do
Abuja money no do you
All Taxes no do you
NURTW money no do you
Lekki toll gate money no do you
All loan borrowed no do you
National assembly padded budget no do you.

If you stand before God and he asked you now you are before him penniless what is the essence of acquiring all those ill gotten wealth what will be you reply ?

He appears intent on snatching and grabbing everything. This is a classic example of criminal state capture.

The exposé on the life presidency agenda, as revealed by El-Rufai, should be clear to all discerning and rational Nigerians.

fuckingAyaya:
How much Tinubu dey find before he departs this world, how how much gan gan?
Cracks money no do you
Lagos money no do you
Nigeria money no do you
Oil money no do you.
Rivers state money no still do
Abuja money no do you
All Taxes no do you
NURTW money no do you
Lekki toll gate money no do you
All loan borrowed no do you
National assembly padded budget no do you.

If you stand before God and he asked you now you are before him penniless what is the essence of acquiring all those ill gotten wealth what will be you reply ?

Let me still also add the #19t coastal road of fraud to the list. Baba emilokan will no doubt go down in history as the most greediest politician in nigeria's history.

In as much as I commend such move by the Great Óbá of Benin, It would have been more appreciated if the Oba can use same authority to ban market women, land owners, transporters extortion.

That will go a long way. Since many governors are too dumb to make the move, the Great Óbá of Benin should lead.

CoronaVirusPro:
In as much as I commend such move by the Great Óbá of Benin, It would have been more appreciated if the Oba can use same authority to ban market women, land owners, transporters extortion.

That will go a long way. Since many governors are too dumb to make the move, the Great Óbá of Benin should lead.

Have your Oba of Lagos done that in Lagos, see hypocrisy...


The same people constantly attack the Igbos for matters that only concerns Igbos in another region outside Igbo land like Ohaneze or Eze ndigbo, but they are the real dis-respecters of people's culture, tradition and society.

Look at Iyaloja here that her position is supposed to be restricted to just Lagos and maybe a few Yoruba states is imposing leadership and disrespecting other cultures and tradition in different parts of Nigeria, and guess what, these same Yorubas are all quiet and some even coming to to support it.

Then you look at the case of the Emir of Kano, Tinubu has ensured there are 2 Emirs till date, something that is a state issue, they are busy disrespecting the Kano emirates and their culture, still the doings of a Yoruba man and they are all quiet and and some still supporting him.


Then you look at the case of Rivers state, You removed a sitting governor and appointed a man from another state against the wish of the people of the state, these very same Yorubas were all quiet and a lot supported it.

Now pause for a moment and imagine if the people who did all these were Igbos, even the media will start writing articles about how the Igbos plotted coup to dominate Nigeria and this is likely a repeat of what happened then, I'm telling you that with what Tinubu and the Yorubas have done presently to other Nigerians if it were to be Igbos doing same under Peter Obi or any Igbo president, Igbos may have been attacked in the north and south west.

The Yorubas would have been all over the place shouting out their voices how Igbos like to dominate and so on, that's why I don't believe whatever they say about the Kaduna Nzeogwu coup that it was an Igbo coup.

From what I've learned from them, they are only looking for an action to blame the Igbos even if the action is good, and that false thing they are blaming the Igbos for is actually what they are doing or planning to do if they have the opportunity like Tinubu's presidency.

Like I do say, Tinubu's presidency exposed a whole lot in Nigeria especially from the Yorubas...

Brendaniel:
Have your Oba of Lagos done that in Lagos, see hypocrisy...

Hello, Oba of Lagos is a ceremonial stool and what you see there is just a decoration.

When you talking about Óbá’s, Oba of Lagos does not fall in the list.

CoronaVirusPro:
Hello, Oba of Lagos is a ceremonial stool and what you see there is just a decoration.

When you talking about Óbá’s, Oba of Lagos does not fall in the list.

That means you are saying that the Oba of Lagos is just a figure head?

Brendaniel:
That means you are saying that the Oba of Lagos is just a figure head?

When an Oba allows Seyi Tinubu to play with his gemu in public, can such a figure still command traditional respect?

fuckingAyaya:
How much Tinubu dey find before he departs this world, how how much gan gan?
Cracks money no do you
Lagos money no do you
Nigeria money no do you
Oil money no do you.
Rivers state money no still do
Abuja money no do you
All Taxes no do you
NURTW money no do you
Lekki toll gate money no do you
All loan borrowed no do you
National assembly padded budget no do you.

If you stand before God and he asked you now you are before him penniless what is the essence of acquiring all those ill gotten wealth what will be you reply ?

It's shocking.really the insatiable greed and love for money the drug man has.

Even dangote said he doesn't need much to live on again as he approaches 70, not tinubu sha.

He wants the whole world at his age oo

Brendaniel:
Have your Oba of Lagos done that in Lagos, see hypocrisy...


The same people constantly attack the Igbos for matters that only concerns Igbos in another region outside Igbo land like Ohaneze or Eze ndigbo, but they are the real dis-respecters of people's culture, tradition and society.

Look at Iyaloja here that her position is supposed to be restricted to just Lagos and maybe a few Yoruba states is imposing leadership and disrespecting other cultures and tradition in different parts of Nigeria, and guess what, these same Yorubas are all quiet and some even coming to to support it.

Then you look at the case of the Emir of Kano, Tinubu has ensured there are 2 Emirs till date, something that is a state issue, they are busy disrespecting the Kano emirates and their culture, still the doings of a Yoruba man and they are all quiet and and some still supporting him.


Then you look at the case of Rivers state, You removed a sitting governor and appointed a man from another state against the wish of the people of the state, these very same Yorubas were all quiet and a lot supported it.

Now pause for a moment and imagine if the people who did all these were Igbos, even the media will start writing articles about how the Igbos plotted coup to dominate Nigeria and this is likely a repeat of what happened then, I'm telling you that with what Tinubu and the Yorubas have done presently to other Nigerians if it were to be Igbos doing same under Peter Obi or any Igbo president, Igbos may have been attacked in the north and south west.

The Yorubas would have been all over the place shouting out their voices how Igbos like to dominate and so on, that's why I don't believe whatever they say about the Kaduna Nzeogwu coup that it was an Igbo coup.

From what I've learned from them, they are only looking for an action to blame the Igbos even if the action is good, and that false thing they are blaming the Igbos for is actually what they are doing or planning to do if they have the opportunity like Tinubu's presidency.

Like I do say, Tinubu's presidency exposed a whole lot in Nigeria especially from the Yorubas...

We know their ways and their capabilities.

The gates of hell will never prevail against igbos

Our lazy Tax collecting accomodators are at it again...

fuckingAyaya:
How much Tinubu dey find before he departs this world, how how much gan gan?
Cracks money no do you
Lagos money no do you
Nigeria money no do you
Oil money no do you.
Rivers state money no still do
Abuja money no do you
All Taxes no do you
NURTW money no do you
Lekki toll gate money no do you
All loan borrowed no do you
National assembly padded budget no do you.

If you stand before God and he asked you now you are before him penniless what is the essence of acquiring all those ill gotten wealth what will be you reply ?

He has lots and lots of helpless people to support

I don't understand them , Tinubu daughter succeeded na

The question we should ask is, this office of the iyaloja general of the federation, is it constitutional?

Meanwhile, kudos to the strong benin women. They have shown they are not cowards.

These people think Benin is their region where tradition and culture is cash and carry.

Disgrace everywhere for these gargantuan gaga. They want to make their mark everywhere like Nigeria is all for them. They can only do whatever they like in Lagos but if they try it elsewhere. It will be red for them.

Another video has emerge where oba of Benin welcomes Iyaloja of Nigeria with kolanut.

Women mount!

Strong bini women don stand on top osusumaye swear for jagaban proposed 2nd term bid!

2.5m votes my bumbum!

Oba wey behave like Oba go receive cheers.

Obas act follow for "Things money can't buy".

Edo Nor Be Lagos

(1) Iyeki is a Benin inherited ancestral title and it's not transferable to any other ethnic groups.

(2) Until the present iyeki dies another person can't be inaugurated.

(3) The likes of Emotan, queen Idia, queen Iden all fought and sacrificed dearly for the iconic royal title "Iyeki".

(4) Iyeki is more than mainly seeing through the affairs of the markets but it's connected to the royal palace.

(5) The title Iyeki is rooted in Benin sacred tradition, upon the death of an Iyeki consultations are made before inaugurating the new Iyeki.

Zionmdde:
When you don't know that the entire country is watching what is happening in lagos. Even oyo people also recently showed their disdain

hope u know nairaland is only feeding u 5 days ago news, Tinubu daughter has installed iyeki in Edo state.

Iyeki is equivalent of iyaloja

They should go to court. Josephine has come to stay..... Who no like am, Ovia and Ikpoba rivers no far!!!