The timely intervention of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11, has truncated an attempt by the first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to impose a new leader – Iyeki – on the Edo State Market Women Association in the person of one Mrs. Josephine Ebhaguejezele, a pastor.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
This was disclosed on Thursday by the recognised leader of the Edo market women, Madam Blacky Ogiamen, when she led her members on a thank-you visit to the royal father. Speaking with journalists after the visit, Ogiamen vowed that they would continue to resist and reject any plan to impose a new leader (Iyeki) on the association in the state.
Recall that on July 25, 2024, the association had staged a protest over the plot by Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja of Lagos, to foist a new leadership on them. Leading the protest, Ogiamen had insisted that she remained the authentic chairman of the Market Women Association in Edo State and warned that the position of market women leadership in the state was not political. According to her, “We are saying no to the illegal inauguration of Iyaloja of Edo State.
There is a law guiding the State Market Women Association. We are the authentic market women in Edo State and the association is led by me. This association has been in existence for several decades, right from the reign of Oba Akenzua till the present Oba of Benin. When any leader dies, the assistant will take over. During the reign of Oba Erediauwa, he called us to the Palace and said I should lead the market women in Edo State. Since then, there has been peace in this association in Edo State”.
Speaking to journalists during the association’s thank-you- visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, President of the Association, Ogiamen, said that they were at the palace to express their appreciation to the Oba for intervening in the alleged plan to introduce another Iyeki in Edo.
She said: “We came to say thank you to our royal father and grand patron, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba Benin, for his intervention that led to the stoppage of the planned imposition of another market women leader (Iyeki) in Edo by Folashade Tinubu, the daughter of Mr. President.
“About three weeks ago, we heard that Folashade Tinubu wanted to impose another leader of the market women in Edo, and we cried to our Oba because he is the grand patron of our association.
“We equally cried to the Edo State Government that we will not allow such a plan to materialise in Edo State because she has Lagos State, and I, Blacky, is in charge of market women in Edo State. So, we are here to say thank you to His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II”.
Speaking on a recent viral video of an alleged protest by traders of Oba Market in Benin City, against Governor Obaseki, Princes Rose Osagie, Iyeneki, (leader) of Oba Market Women Association, and Madam Bello Esohe, Vice deputy leader, Oredo Market Women Association, distanced their members from the said video.
They maintained that the alleged viral video was the handiwork of mischief-makers who, according to them, wanted to score some political points against the Edo State Government.
According to Madam Ruth Ero, Deaconess Elizabeth Osabuohien, Ovia South-West Market Women Association leader, and Queen Oshodin, the news was not true, adding that rather, “it was the handiwork of some desperate politicians who wanted to pitch our market women against the state government.
“We are not aware of that video as it never emanated from Oba Market, and we, the Oba Market Women Association, did not at any time protest against Governor Godwin Obaseki”, Oshodin said.
Receiving the market women on behalf of the Oba, Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin Kingdom, promised to take their message to the monarch. Idah urged them to pray against spoilers of the state.
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