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MARKET WOMEN IN EDO PROTEST LEADERSHIP IMPOSITION
On Thursday, Edo State Market Women Association members demonstrated in the streets against the purported attempt to impose Pastor Josephine Ebhaguejezele as Edo Market’s Iyaloja.
The demonstrators, led by Blacky Ogiamen, the Chairman of the Edo State Market Women Association, rejected Chief Folasade Tinubu Ojo, the Iyaloja of Lagos, who was planning to impose leadership.
She cautioned that the position of market women leadership in the state is not political, pointing out that she is the legitimate head of the Edo State Market Women Association.
She stated, “We are saying no to the illegal inauguration of Iyaloja of Edo State. There is a law guiding the State Market Women Association.”
According to her, “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.
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“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.
“We are not politicians. We are voters. We support any government in power. When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was the Governor, we supported him throughout his tenure. We supported Lucky Igbinedion, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, and this present Government. That is how we have been piloting the affairs without crisis.”
She added, “About a week ago, we heard that they want to inaugurate another President of the Edo State Market Women Association. The Oba of Benin is our grand patron, while the Governor is our Patron. It is stated in our constitution that ‘it is only death that removes any leader of the Market Women Association in Edo State. It is not political.”
The coordinators from all 18 of the state’s local government districts, for their part, confirmed their support for Blacky Ogiamen’s leadership and gave him a vote of confidence.