The Edo State Market Women Association has vowed to resist and reject any plan to impose a new leader (Iyeki) on the state association.
This is coming against a recent rumour that Folashade Tinubu, daughter of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is planning to impose another head of market women association in Edo.
Speaking to journalists during the association’s thank-you- visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, president of the association, Madam Blacky Ogiamen, said that they were at the palace to express their appreciation to the Oba for prevailing over the alleged plan introduction of another “Iyeki’ in Edo.
She said, “We came to thank our royal father and grand patron, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba Benin, for his intervention in stopping 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 our 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 thank His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II”.
Speaking on the recent viral video of alleged protest by traders of Oba Market in Benin City, Princes Rose Osagie, Iyeneki, (leader) of Oba Market women association and Madam Bello Esohe, deputy leader, Oredo Market Women Association, distanced their members from the video.
They maintained that the alleged viral video was the work of mischief-makers who, according to them, wanted to score political points against the Edo State Government.
According to Madam Ruth Ero, Deaconess Elizabeth Osabuohien, Ovia South-West Market Women Association leader, and Lady Queen Oshodin, the news is not true; rather, it was the handiwork of some desperate politicians who wanted to pit 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’s 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, promised to take their message to the monarch, just as he admonished them to pray against spoilers of the state.
