Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Lekan Balogun has suspended the celebration of Egungun Festival forthwith over reported cases of violence, arson and looting of shops.
The monarch’s personal assistant (media) Oladele Ogunsola announced this in a statement on Sunday.
Olubadan also summoned all the leaders of masquerades known as Alaagbaa in Ibadanland to an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the ancient Aliiwo Palace, Agodi in Ibadan.
Oba Balogun expressed sadness over the reported cases of violence and brigandage accompanying the annual festival. He said it was unfortunate and an affront on his palace.
He said: “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 or put on the cap of I care less when 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 meeting of Monday afternoon.”
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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.
“I use this medium to call on the security agencies to remain up and doing and ensure no culprit is spared. Whoever flouts the suspension order just given 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,” Oba Balogun added.
