The suspension order placed on the annual Egungun Festival celebrations by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II, has been lifted, following a meeting with the heads of the masquerades, Alaagbaas.
The lifting of the suspension order was contained in a press statement on Friday by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola.
It would be recalled that the traditional ruler, last Sunday, suspended the Egungun Festival celebrations due to the spate of violences recorded in two different places within the Ibadan metropolis, last week.
However, it was stated that the suspension was lifted after a rapprochement between the Olubadan Palace and the Alaagbaas in the land.
With the development, a letter was sent to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, requesting the State Police Command to make adequate provision for security coverage for the masquerades and their supporters.
It was stated in the letter that the meeting between the Palace and the Alaagbaas earlier in the week ensured the extraction of a commitment to peaceful celebration of the festival from the adherents.
The letter to the CP reads: “Following this development, His Imperial Majesty therefore seeks for your esteemed cooperation by ensuring adequate security coverage for the masquerades and their supporters.
“[This is] just as an order is also given that whoever engages in any act of violence must not be allowed to go scot-free.
“His Imperial Majesty reiterates his zero tolerance for any form of brigandage or violence in the course of the celebration of the festival and at all times.”
It would be recalled that Olubadan wielded the big stick owing to occurrences of violence, but later had to be lenient with the adherents.
This was in view of the importance of the festival to the metropolis, but with a stern warning that any masquerade found formenting trouble would face total ban.
The Alaagbaas pleaded with Olubadan to temper justice with mercy and insisted that none of the violence that occurred was as a result of rivalry between opposing masquerades.
According to the Alaagbaas, the violence recorded were caused by hoodlums, hiding under the cover of the festival to attack innocent residents and loot shops.
They appealed to the security agents to be more committed to the safety of lives and property of the people.
“We don’t believe or engage in violence as admonished by our revered monarch and we pledge our cooperation with the security agents not to interfere in their line of duty.
“Let them arrest whoever is found causing trouble and any of us that shows up with a view to secure bail for such identified and arrested criminal should be detained alongside the culprit,” the Alaagbaas said.
