The Benin Traditional Council has declared that the Iyaloja concept is alien to Benin culture and has warned against the use of trade associations to run open markets and engage in partisan politics.
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In a public announcement issued on October 7, 2025, on the authority of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Palace stated that these factors are antithetical and inimical to the essence of market tradition in Benin culture.
The council said there is nothing like Iyeki General in Benin, which the Iyaloja concept seems to imply.
According to the statement, in Benin culture, an Iyeki emerges among market women. After being chosen by the market women, she is brought to the Palace for confirmation. Once confirmed, they are told to proceed and install her as the Iyeki of the market.
The Palace stated it never chooses anybody as Iyeki, noting that it is the market women who do that. Every Iyeki is independent of each other and is culturally, spiritually and religiously tied to the Palace, with a direct functional relationship between Iyeki and the Palace.
The council stated that just as there is no honourary chieftaincy title in Benin culture, there is also no honourary 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 advice that the function of Iyeki should not be politicised. Any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of the peace,” the statement said.
The council advised the state government to take cognisance of this to avoid breakdown of law and order, adding: “We would have advised the state government of this salient tradition if the Benin Traditional Council had been consulted much earlier.”
The Palace observed that markets have become a veritable tool in the hands of partisan politicians and unscrupulous individuals to express themselves for their personal benefit, a situation it said has persisted since before the present administration.
The council noted it has received numerous complaints that the practice of using associations in negative ways in the markets has contributed immensely to the rise in prices of foodstuffs, thereby seriously impacting efforts to bring food prices down.
The Palace appealed to market women and politicians behind them to eschew dragging the sanctity of the name of the Oba into their partisan political affairs.
The statement referenced comments such as “the Oba’s word is final” in the Iyaloja saga, questioning whether market women respected this in previous administrations when they allowed themselves to be used as political pawns.
The council cited an instance when a former leader, Blacky Ogiemien, was summoned to the Palace and advised to eschew using market women as political pawns, but she continued to use them to do her personal bidding and that of the administration at the time.
“There is an old adage in Benin that ‘uvun re rhan iramwen elaro‘ meaning if there is no hole in a tree, deadly insects cannot find entrance into it to cause any damage,” the statement said.
The Palace expressed hope that market women, headed by their Iyekis, would have learned their lesson and know their traditional connection with the Palace and what is expected of them.
The council stated that the current administration is doing well and does not need the Iyaloja concept to guarantee anything, noting that if the Palace had been duly consulted about what tradition says about the Iyeki role in Benin tradition, all the ensuing controversy or tension would have been avoided.
The Palace, although not partisan, said it strongly supports the state government administration.
The council stated it does not know the aim of the Iyaloja concept being introduced to Edo State, expressing hope that if it is a national initiative, the Iyaloja of Lagos or Nigeria must extend the concept to other states in Nigeria before its authenticity and motive can be believed.
The statement asked whether an Edo woman can be made the Iyaloja of Lagos or Nigeria, and whether the concept can be extended to Aba, Owerri, Keffi, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and other parts of Nigeria.
The council commended and appreciated the work of the governor and the president, appealing to them not to allow the shenanigans of market women politics to distract them from the work they have been elected to do.
“Please be rest-assured that the Palace will continue to support our state government policies and programmes. We pray the Palace will continue to enjoy reciprocal support from the state government,” the statement said.
The council noted that Governor Monday Okpebholo, also known as “Akpakomiza,” has taken the Oba as his father, and the Oba has reciprocated by taking the governor as his son.
“The Benin Traditional Council and the Edo people cherish this cordial relationship and we pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors that it continues to stay that way. Akpakomiza plus Ewuare N’Ogidigan is a divine blessing to Edo State,” the statement said.
The announcement was signed by Chief Norense Ozigbo-Esere (Osuma of Benin), Chief Edionwe Oliha (Oliha of Benin), Chief Osaro Idah (Obazelu of Benin), Chief Okunoghae Edomwandagbon (Ine of Benin), Chief Ada Igbinovia (Eribo of Benin), and Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council.
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