Imposition of an Iyaloja on market women in Edo state: A call for discretion

Somewhere and sometimes in the past, with emergence of Alh. Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s President, his first daughter, Folashade Ojo, created and assumed the role of the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, a title and position which is strange and not recognised in the Nigerian Constitution. Before then, she had assumed the role of the First Daughter which, while it is not strange, given the paternal relationship between them, has never till then been forced by other first daughters, including Iyabo Obasanjo, a medical doctor, who within her own rights and capability won elections and was once a Senator the Federal Republic.

When the story emerged about the introduction of an Iyaloja in Edo State, watchers of issues of national interest, assumed it was fake news, and this assumption gained conviction as it appeared to die out. Yet, a few days back, conventional and social media platforms broke the news of the meeting between Mrs. Shade Tinubu-Ojo, her nominee for the position, Pastor Mrs. Josephine Ivabahzebule and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11 and his chiefs. Speaking through one of his chiefs, Chief Osaro Idah, the Oba lectured Mrs. Ojo on the alien concept the Iyaloja is in Benin, and elaborated that Binis have Iyeki for each market who is nominated by market women for each market in the kingdom, and who play spiritual roles in the palace, among other functions.

Yet, it would appear that neither Mrs. Ojo nor members of her entourage were satisfied as Mrs. Ivabahzebule was eventually inaugurated in the state house with the governor, Monday Okphebolo present. The implication of this development and apparent disregard of the advice of the Benin Monarch is numbing given the godlike aura and respect he commands in Edo State and beyond. It would also appear that the stage is set for a confrontation. Unfortunately, one of the losers of this development would be the hapless New Sheriff in Town, Okphebolo who is caught between loyalty to his political godfathers President Tinubu and Senator Adams Oshiomhole versus the suzerainty of His Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, who wields social and cultural powers that would impact definitely in the political chess game that is unfolding. Howbeit, the potency of the Federal powers are daunting and if deployed against the institution of the monarchy could snowball to conflicts of volcanic proportions, while sealing the fate of the APC negatively in the state.

This writer has deliberately chosen to avoid the use of the term yorubanisation in this discourse though these developments point to it. That is a fear which is barely underneath in Nigerians’ psyche given the glaring lopsidedness in appointments made by the Presidency, since the inauguration of the new government. Imposing an alien culture in culturally rich Benin would be seen as making it a vassal state before another. Besides religion, another sensitive variable which people are not willing to trade is their culture or ways of doing things. A deliberate imposition of an Iyaloja (which is purely a Yoruba concept) on Bini market women who have been overseen for thousands of years by Iyekis in different markets, would definitely set the alarm bells ringing. There is the need to step back to avoid this avoidable collision, for the wellbeing of the people and Nigerians as a whole.

Further, this imposition of Iyalojas in different states outside of Yorubaland, and in some cases even in Yorubaland is alien in Nigerian cultures. And among the Yorubas, market women nominate and elect their Iyalojas based on their affluence, influence and fights against their common foe or a redoubtable enemy. For instance, Chief Alimotu Pelewura a market leader, who was given a chieftaincy title by Oba Eshugbayi Eleko for her exploits and protests against taxation and price control of produces, which she believed would impact negatively on women in the 1920s. Another is Efunsetan Aniwura who was famous in Ibadan for her stupendous wealth and political influence in the 19th century, who also impacted colonial rule at the time. Mrs. Ojo should therefore be circumspect and cautionary as she continues with the cause she’s chasing. The importance of research and knowledge of specific landscapes would be important.

It would be more difficult for her to introduce the Iyaloja concept in markets which exist in Southeast, other South South states and the north. Would it be easy to introduce an Iyaloja in northern markets which owe allegiance to their Emirs and which do not encourage women to engage in such activities? Or would she be able to round up Igbo market women to impose an Iyaloja on them? I doubt the efficacy and possibility of such.

Rather than buck the apple cart, the first daughter with her interest in market women should devise projects and programmes to modernise markets, build good toilets, educate women on financial literacy and education, adopt modern ways of doing business, ensure protection of their lives and properties among others. Again, it would be advisable to use another name rather than Iyaloja which women from other parts would see as a Yoruba imposition that would further alienate them. Therefore, a noncommittal name should be adopted for the Nigerian market women’s cause. When the late Mrs. Mariam Babangida floated her pet project, Better Life for Rural Women, nobody was agitated but all embraced it.

Nigerians are weary with the pains of living existentially and adding such challenges to an already heated oven, would be one distraction too many.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Okiyi writes from Abuja.