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 in the city.
In a statement on Sunday by his Personal Assistant on Media, Mr. Oladele Ogunsola, the monarch expressed concern that some hoodlums were taking advantage of the Egungun festival to perpetrate all sorts of atrocities.
The traditional ruler also summoned all the leaders of masquerades, known as ‘Alaagbaa’ in Ibadan, to an emergency meeting scheduled for 17 July, at the ancient Aliiwo palace, Agodi.
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.
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 masqueraders’ leaders.
“No responsible leader would fold his arms when majority of those subjects one superintends 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 meeting of Monday afternoon”, the 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 and ensure no culprit was 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”, the Olubadan stated.
