Oba Of Benin Receives Gratitude From Traditional Market Leaders For Championing Cultural Heritage

As the controversy over the nomenclature of market leadership continues, traditional market leaders and executives from various markets across Edo State have paid a solidarity visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to express appreciation for his recent pronouncement affirming that the title of “Iyaloja” is alien to Benin custom and tradition.

The market leaders said the Oba’s stance has reinforced the preservation of Benin’s rich cultural heritage and restored dignity to traditional market leadership in the state.

The visit follows weeks of tension between market traders and the appointment of an Iyaloja-General for Edo State, a role the palace has described as alien to Benin tradition.

The palace of the Oba of Benin was filled with chants of solidarity as women from different markets trooped in to thank the monarch for upholding what they described as the true essence of Benin tradition.

They were received by Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, in the company of other palace chiefs, who acknowledged their visit on behalf of the Oba. Chief Idah commended the women while advising them to return peacefully to their respective markets and avoid any actions capable of breaching peace.

The delegation, representing market leaders from across the state, expressed appreciation to the Oba for standing firmly against attempts to introduce the Iyaloja-General title into Edo markets.

“We are in the palace to thank our royal father for upholding our culture and publicly denouncing the Iyaloja, which our revered father described as alien. We are happy about this, and so we decided to come and appreciate our father and thank him.”