By Jethro Ibileke
There is palpable confusion over Edo State government’s continued silence following the inauguration of Pastor Josephine Ivbaguezejele as the “Iyaloja” (Market leader) in Edo State.
The Iyaloja-general of Nigeria and daughter of President Bola Tinubu, had six days ago visited the State and inaugurated Josephine as Iyeki, to oversee markets in the State.
The development sparked outrage and ethnic divisions among residents, as the government has yet to make a public statement to douse tension.
Tension boiled after a video of the reported inauguration of Josephine inside the State Government House, in the company of the Coordinator, office of the first lady, surfaced, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani.
Following the development, many market women protested the said inauguration of Josephine, who they described as a non-Benin, adding that the action is an affront to the position of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
The President’s daughter had earlier visited the palace of the Oba of Benin to introduce Josephine to the monarch, but was, however, informed that the “Iyaloja title” is alien to Benin culture and tradition.
”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.
”I know this is an association. You gather yourselves together to be more powerful and to harness the power of women to help the political class.
”You are in the home of culture. Do you know that every Iyeki (market leader) has a special relationship with the palace?” Ọba Ewuare had said.
He further emphasised that each market leader in Benin is autonomous, noting that they don’t have a general leader.
He also educated the President’s daughter on the assigned roles of the various market women leaders (Iyeki) who, according to him, make rounds at market shrines, report to the spirits by serving as spiritual rails in addition to coordinating market women, on behalf of the palace.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State, has cautioned against the desecration of Benin customs and tradition.
The party stated this in a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, Esq.
According to the statement, “The Oba is the living repository of Benin native law, custom, and tradition; his pronouncements on matters of our heritage are final and must be treated with the reverence they deserve.
”We are particularly alarmed that this affront to centuries-old institutions of the Benin market system was permitted to take place with the apparent connivance or complacency of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration and officials attached to the Government House.
”The deliberate flouting of palace protocol and the public marginalisation of the Oba’s constitutional and customary role cannot be permitted, normalised, or shrugged off as mere accident.”
As at the time of filing this report on Monday, telephone calls to the mobile line of the State Commissioner for Information, Paul Ohonbamu, to get the government’s reaction on the controversy went unanswered.
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