The people of Akure, the Ondo State capital have described as “anti-culture” the resolve of the Ondo State Executive Council which banned closure of markets in the state capital, in celebration of the ancient Aeregbe Festival.
The people expressed shock that Governor Akeredolu could unilaterally, without prior consultation with the custodians of this culture – the king – ban the practice which it said was one of the glues that cement the Akure society together.
The state government had recently mandated that there shall be no closure of markets in any part of the state without the approval of the governor.
According to the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, “The State EXCO also noted the permit granted for the observance of traditional festivals in the state. The government hereby reiterates that there shall be no closure of markets without the approval of the governor.
Reacting on behalf of the people, a socio-cultural group in the city, Ooye Development Initiative (ODI), said it considered the statement credited to the commissioner for Information in the state, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju as a continuation of a perceived hostility of the current Ondo State government to the people of Akure.
In statement by ODI’s secretary, former dean, Faculty of Science of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abiodun Ayodele and publicity secretary, Dr Festus Adedayo said, “We consider the statement a continuation of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu government’s persistent riding roughshod over the people of Akure, hostility to their ancient practices and persistent disregard for their monarchy and the monarch.”
According to ODI, the closure of markets for the yearly festival has not only been in practice in Akure since ancient time, “it constitutes the corpus of tradition, belief system and practices of the people” which the group said is guided by laws, order and consideration for the welfare of the people of the state capital.
The group said that at the beginning of the age long traditional festival and as is its wont every year, the Deji of Akure, through his chief press secretary, adequately announced the programme for the observance of the annual Aheregbe Festival, part of which was the closure of markets.
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