…Insists for investigation into First Lady’s Office over role played in installation of ‘Iyaloja-General’ for Edo markets by Tinubu’s Daughter
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned that it would use every lawful political and civic means to resist the attrition of the Benin traditional institutions over the installation of Iyaloja-General for markets in Edo State by President Bola Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo in spite of the disapproval of the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II to such a decision.
In a statement on Thursday, the PDP registered “its deep concern and condemnation” at the recent public display “in which a non-Benin woman purported to inaugurate market leadership positions in Benin Kingdom”, an act the Oba of Benin has himself described as alien to our culture.
The9jaTREND reports that the self-proclaimed Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Tinubu-Ojo had visited Edo State on Thursday to inaugurate Mrs. Josephine Isi Ibhaguezejele, a pastor, as the Iyaloja-General of Edo markets, at a ceremony held at the Government House where the Director, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Anani and some market women were present.
When Ibhaguezejele was presented to the Oba of Benin by Tinubu-Ojo during their visit to Oba palace, she was openly told that the position is alien to the Benin culture as no one leader has authority over traders in another market.
Oba Ewuare II reminded her that she was in the home of culture where every ‘Iyeki’ (market leader) has a special relationship with the Palace and so must be confirmed before inauguration.
In a press statement on Thursday signed by the State Publicity Secretary (SPS) of the PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, a lawyer, the party demanded an “explicit apology to the Oba of Benin and to the good people of Edo State from the office of the Governor and from any official involved in organising the event”, as well as an independent review of the role of the First Lady’s Office and Government House protocol “in staging events affecting Benin cultural institutions”, with findings to be made public.
PDP also called for a meeting between the Palace and the state government to reaffirm the Palace’s custodial role over native customs and market institutions and a formal undertaking that no future inauguration, appointment, or public recognition of market leaders would take place without prior consultation and confirmation by the Palace, as required by custom.
“No one, individual or government, has the right to usurp the custodial functions of the Oba. Any attempt to create parallel or “general” market leadership structures that undermine the Palace-confirmed order will be resisted by Edo people at home and in the Diaspora.
“Governor Okpebholo and his appointees must explain themselves. The people of Edo deserve to know who authorised or facilitated the event in Government House, and under whose instruction the Palace was disrespected,” Ogbegie stated.
The PDP image maker stated clearly that “Edo is not for sale. Our traditions are not bargaining chips for political expediency or a stage for partisan showmanship”.
“They violated the dignity of the Oba Palace and the people it represents,” Ogbegie said.
The PDP said it would also raise the matter in the appropriate fora, support legal remedies where necessary, “and ensure that those who treat Edo tradition as a footnote to political theatre are held to account”.