By Charles Pemu 
BENIN CITY—A significant cultural and political controversy has erupted in Edo State following the installation of Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as the Iyaloja of Edo State by the Iyaloja-General of Market Women Association, Mrs. Folashade Ojo-Tinubu.
The uproar stems from the unusual nature of the title, which is unfamiliar in Benin’s cultural structure, the selection process, and allegations that the position is being politicized in the wake of the recent governorship election.
Oba Ewuare II: ‘Iyaloja is Alien to Benin Tradition’
The controversy reached a head when the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, openly disavowed the title. While receiving Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu and her delegation, the Monarch stated unequivocally that the titles of “Iyaloja-General” or “Iyeki-General” are alien to Benin tradition.
The Oba explained that market leadership in the Kingdom is strictly cultural and decentralized:
- Every market in Benin Kingdom has its head, known as Iye’ki, who performs cultural and religious functions on behalf of the palace.
- Chief Osaro Idah, speaking for the Oba, confirmed that the selection of an Iye’ki is an internal market process, and the concept of a “general Iye’ki” that controls all others is foreign to Benin custom.
Observers noted that Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu’s action of inaugurating Ibhaguezejele before visiting the Oba was a stark break with tradition.
Protests and Political Motives Alleged
The dispute intensified with protests from the Edo State Market Women Association (ESMWA), which rejected the installation of Ibhaguezejele, claiming she is not of Benin extraction and lacks cultural eligibility.
In a signed statement, the women labelled the imposition as “a taboo” and “a negation of Benin tradition,” alleging the appointment was politically influenced by government officials and Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu.
The controversy is linked to the fallout from the September 21 governorship election, where the incumbent head of market women, Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen (who had led a protest against attempts to remove her earlier in July), was accused of openly supporting the PDP candidate.
Pastor Ibhaguezejele dismissed the protests as politically motivated, claiming the position had been vacant for 12 years and that leaders from 151 of the 152 markets in Edo attended her inauguration. Similarly, Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu insisted no one was displaced.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented at the event, affirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women but avoided wading into the cultural dispute.
Prominent figures, including former Senator Ehigie Uzamere and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have joined the chorus of condemnation, urging the state government to prioritize traditional respect over political expediency.
As of press time, the Edo State government had not issued an official response to the escalating crisis.