How Ophebholo and Tinubu’s Daughter Attempted To Install An Iyaloja in Edo State

Edo people, it is time to open our eyes. Something strange, something dangerous, and something completely alien to our culture is creeping into our land. And it is not by accident – it is by design.

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What happened at the Edo State Government House on October 1st, 2025, was not a mere ceremony. It was a calculated move to undermine the authority of the Oba of Benin, distort our traditions, and sell Edo people cheaply in the market of Nigerian politics.

The Iyaloja Drama at Government House

On October 1st, while many were busy celebrating Independence Day, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo – the daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the self-styled Iyaloja-General of Nigeria – stormed the Edo State Government House with her entourage. What did she come to do? She installed Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as the “Iyaloja of all markets in Edo State.” Yes, you read that right. An Iyaloja of all markets in Edo! In Government House! And the ceremony carried the quiet blessing of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

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To outsiders, this may look like just another event. But to anyone who understands Edo history, culture, and identity, this is more than a red flag. This is an insult. This is a calculated attempt to rewrite our traditions and replace them with foreign ones, all in the name of politics.

Why Edo People Should Be Concerned

Let’s make it clear: there is no Iyaloja in Edo culture. None. The title does not exist and has never existed in our history. In Benin, the traditional leaders of markets are called Iyeki. Each market has its Iyeki, chosen by the traders themselves and confirmed by the palace of the Oba of Benin.

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Unlike the “Iyaloja” system in Yoruba land, which places markets under the political influence of a central figure, Benin markets have always operated independently, respecting the authority of the Oba. There is no such thing as an “Iyeki-General.” And there is certainly no “Iyaloja of Edo.”   So, when Folashade Tinubu-Ojo — a Yoruba woman, and not even a trader in Edo — walked into Government House to install her own appointee as “Iyaloja,” she was not only disrespecting the Oba, she was disrespecting the very identity of Edo people. And Governor Ophebholo stood by and allowed it to happen.

The Oba of Benin’s Swift Response

Edo people are not orphans. We have a custodian of our culture, and he did not keep silent. When Folashade Tinubu-Ojo later visited the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, he publicly rejected the title. He reminded her — and the world — that the concept of “Iyaloja” does not exist in Benin tradition. He emphasized that Edo people have Iyeki, not Iyaloja, and that each Iyeki is chosen within their market and confirmed by the palace, not imposed from outside. The Oba’s rejection was not just a cultural correction. It was a powerful statement of resistance. Traders across Benin markets celebrated his stance, dancing and rejoicing that their traditions had been defended. For them, the Oba’s words were a shield against political manipulation. But the bigger question remains: why did Governor Ophebholo allow this charade in the first place?

Ophebholo’s Dangerous Game

Edo people must understand that what happened on October 1st was not just about markets. It was about politics. It was about Ophebholo trying to impress his political benefactor, President Bola Tinubu, at the expense of Edo traditions.

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Ophebholo is desperate. He knows his seat is shaky, and he is determined to show loyalty to Tinubu by importing Yoruba political structures into Edo, even when they clash with Benin culture. Allowing Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to install an Iyaloja in Government House was his way of saying: “See, Mr. President, I am loyal. I will sell my people’s culture to prove it.” This is why Edo people must be worried. A governor who can compromise his people’s traditions to score political points is a dangerous man. And Ophebholo has shown that he is more than willing to do so.

The Return of NURTW: A Warning Sign

If you think this is just about markets, think again. The same governor who welcomed Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to Government House has also been quietly opening the doors to the MC Oluomo-led National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) — an organization that Governor Godwin Obaseki banned in Edo for its violence and thuggery.

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Why bring back NURTW after it was rejected by Edo people? The answer is simple: loyalty to Tinubu’s political machinery. In Lagos and other states, NURTW is not just a union; it is a political weapon, a tool for mobilizing thugs and controlling transport revenue. By inviting them back into Edo, Ophebholo is laying the groundwork for external control of Edo’s markets, roads, and unions. In other words, Edo people are being prepared for occupation. And it is all being done under the nose of a governor who owes his position to outsiders and is determined to repay the debt.

This Plot Didn’t Start Today: The Adams Oshiomhole Angle

Let us not deceive ourselves. What we are seeing today is the continuation of a long-standing plan. The seeds were planted  when former Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole, upon the inauguration of Monday Okphebolo as governor, picked a strange fight with the former Iyeki, Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen. That fight had no cultural basis, but it created confusion in market leadership and weakened the traditional system. It was this same confusion that allowed Ophebholo to eventually remove Blacky as Iyeki, creating a vacuum in which outsiders could creep in. What happened on October 1st is not new – it is the fruit of a tree that has been growing silently for years.

Edo People Must Not Be Fooled

Edo people must ask themselves: what is the endgame here? If we allow outsiders to impose an “Iyaloja” today, what will they impose tomorrow? Will our markets be run from Lagos? Or will our traditions be dictated from Abuja? Will our children grow up in a land where Benin culture is reduced to a mere footnote, replaced by imported systems designed for political control? Governor Ophebholo may think he is being clever, but in reality, he is playing with fire. By allowing strangers to tamper with our traditions, he is not only insulting the Oba, he is endangering the unity and dignity of Edo people.

The Oba of Benin: A Pillar of Resistance

In all of this, one man stands tall: Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II. His firm rejection of the Iyaloja title shows that the palace remains the last line of defense against cultural invasion. Without his voice, Edo would already be in the hands of political merchants. The Oba’s courage must inspire Edo people. His stance proves that we can resist these encroachments if we remain united. It proves that our culture is not for sale, no matter how desperate politicians may be to impress their Abuja masters.

A Worrisome Trend

Edo people must not treat this matter lightly. It is not “just politics.” It is not “just culture.” This is about our survival as a people. Once our traditions are eroded, they are gone forever. And if we allow outsiders to dictate how our markets are run, then we are no longer masters of our own land. Governor Ophebholo has shown that he is willing to gamble with our future to secure his political ambition and tht of President Bola Tinubu. Today it is Iyaloja. Tomorrow it may be something worse. The signs are clear: Edo is at risk of becoming a political colony.

The Call to Action

Edo people must rally behind the Oba. Traders must refuse to recognize any foreign titles imposed on them. Unions must resist the re-entry of NURTW into our land. And every Edo son and daughter must speak out against this creeping invasion of our culture. Let it be known: Edo is not for sale. Our markets are not for outsiders. Our traditions are not political tools. And our future cannot be mortgaged to satisfy the ambition of one man or one family.

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The drama at Government House on October 1st may have been packaged as a celebration, but make no mistake: it was an attempt to sell Edo culture cheaply in exchange for 2027 political favour. Edo people must not fall for it. The question now is simple: will we rise to defend our traditions, or will we allow Ophebholo’s antics to drag us into the waiting arms of strangers? The choice is ours. And the time to act is now.

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