The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Sunday, directed the suspension of the ongoing Egungun festival over reported cases of violence, arson and looting of shops.
A statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by the Olubadan’s Personal Assistant on Media, Oladele Ogunsola, said the atrocities were perpetrated by some hoodlums hiding under cover of the Egungun festival in Ibadan.
The Monarch equally summoned all the leaders of masquerades, known as ‘Alaagbaa’ in Ibadan land, to an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the ancient Aliiwo palace, Agodi, in Ibadan.
The traditional ruler expressed sadness over the reported cases of violence accompanying the annual festival, “the video of which has gone viral”. He described the development as unfortunate and an affront to his palace because he had warned against turning the festival into an avenue to wreak havoc.
It would be recalled that Oba Balogun had on Wednesday condemned the violence reported during the festival in the Alafara area.
“As if the warning was just a blabbing, the same thing was reported on Saturday on a scale that made the previous one a child’s play.“I warned seriously against what is happening when the festival was to commence, and the assurances I got then were that nothing untoward would accompany the festival.
“But, the reports coming to me have been at variance with those assurances I earlier got from the masquerades’ leaders.
“No responsible leader would fold his arms when the majority of those subjects one superintendents over are in agony and living in perpetual fear just because of the activities of a few misguided elements who find it difficult to be law-abiding.
“This is why the suspension clause has to be invoked, and how long it lasts would be determined by the outcome of the Monday afternoon meeting,” Olubadan said.
Oba Balogun insisted that the ugly past when the masquerade festival was usually a period of terror when perceived enemies became targets of attack and violence had been buried a long time ago, and any attempt to exhume it would be met with stiff sanctions.
He called on the security agencies to remain up and doing, ensure no culprit is spared, “whoever flouts the suspension order under whatever guise must be handled like a criminal.
“I’m for peace, and there’s zero tolerance for whatever it is that will not give my people peace of mind,” he stated
(NAN)
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Kelechi Amadi-Obi - Transcending the worlds of Law, Visual Art and Photography". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
Download E-MagazineDo you want to be heard, your events covered, your articles published, or need to advertise your products and services on our Blog and Magazine, reach out to us at Newswire Law and Events, you will be glad you did. For more details about our services, please call: 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk
