The Benin Traditional Council has warned against attempts to politicise market leadership, insisting that the concept of Iyaloja is foreign to Benin culture.
The Palace, in a statement signed by Mr Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, alongside five other top chiefs, also condemned the use of trade associations to control open markets and engage in partisan politics, describing such practices as harmful to Benin’s market traditions.
According to the Palace, the Iyeki—the traditional market leader in Benin culture—is selected by market women and subsequently presented to the Palace for confirmation and installation.
It stressed that each Iyeki operates independently and maintains a direct relationship with the Palace.
“We strongly advise that the function of Iyeki should not be politicised. Any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of peace,” the statement read.
The Palace expressed concern over the growing use of markets as tools for political manipulation by certain individuals and urged both market women and politicians to refrain from dragging the sacred name of the Oba into partisan matters.
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, reaffirmed the cultural and spiritual importance of the Iyeki, noting that each performs specific rituals for the Palace and for the well-being of the market community.
The Palace further clarified that no honorary Iyeki title exists in Benin culture, as every holder of the title is spiritually and culturally bound to the Palace.
It directed all Iyekis across markets in the kingdom to appear before the Palace for further clarifications on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at noon.
Reiterating its support for the state and federal governments, the Palace commended the governor and the president for their ongoing efforts and urged them not to be distracted by politics surrounding market leadership.
(NAN)