The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has urged Egungun (masquerades) and their followers to eschew violence during and after this year’s ongoing Egungun Festival, warning that any form of violence will not be tolerated.
Oba Ladoja made the appeal in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The monarch noted that, the Egungun Festival is an annual cultural event that has been celebrated from time immemorial, serving as a platform to showcase the rich heritage of Ibadanland, promote social cohesion, strengthen family unity, and foster communal solidarity through traditional rites and sacrifices.
According to Oba Ladoja, the festival should not be used as an avenue for settling old scores, engaging in supremacy contests, or carrying out retaliatory attacks between masquerades and their opponents.
He assured residents that the palace had put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure a hitch-free celebration throughout the festival period.
Oba Ladoja further appealed to the people to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace and order, emphasising that masquerades and their followers must strictly adhere to designated routes, locations, and time schedules approved by Law enforcement agencies.