By Adeyinka Adeniran
As this year’s egungun festival begins in Ibadan on Monday, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja has tasked masquerades and their followers to eschew violence during and after the festival, warning that violent conduct of any kind is punishable under the law.
In a statement signed by his Chief spokesman, Chief Adeola Oloko on Sunday, Oba Ladoja stated that the egungun festival is an annual ritual which the people have been celebrating from time immemorial.
According to the monarch, the festival is dedicated to celebrating “our lores, custom and tradition. It is a moment to showcase the evolution of our society, the social cohesion, family unity and solidarity through offering of sacrifice.
“It is a time to reflect on our history as a people-where we are coming from and where we are right now. It is worth-celebrating with drum beats,dance and merriment.”
Oba Ladoja contended that the festival is neither an avenue to settle old scores, engage in supremacy contest or retaliatory attacks between masquerades and their opponents.
The first class monarch assured that all necessary arrangements to ensure a hitch- free egungun festival this year have been put in place by the palace.
Oba Ladoja urged the people to co-operate with law enforcement agents in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for celebration, adding that masquerades and followers should not go beyond the point and time marked for them by the law-enforcement agents.
