Controversy in Edo: Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Crowns Josephine Ebhaguejezele as Iyeki General, Sparks Backlash

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Edo State has been thrown into heated debate after Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and self-proclaimed Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, officially crowned Mrs. Josephine Ebhaguejezele as the new Iyeki General of Edo Market Women Association.

The installation, which took place at the Festival Hall of Edo State Government House, has sparked cultural controversy, as critics insist the role of Iyeki is rooted in Benin tradition and should only be sanctioned by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.

Social commentator Albert Obazee voiced his disapproval, writing: “Na falling hand be this”—a phrase that has since gone viral on social media. Many Edo indigenes echoed his concerns, arguing that Tinubu-Ojo’s action undermines local customs and risks creating tension between political influence and traditional authority.

The backlash follows the Oba of Benin’s recent statement rejecting the imposition of the Iyaloja system in Edo markets. He emphasized that Benin people have their own long-standing structure—Iyeki—through which leaders are chosen by traders and later ratified by the palace.

With Josephine Ebhaguejezele’s inauguration now official, the debate has intensified over who truly holds the authority to appoint market leaders in Edo State: the palace, the people, or political figures.

For now, the move continues to trend online, igniting a wider national conversation on tradition, culture, and political influence in Nigeria’s market leadership.