Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has issued a stern warning to Prince Gboyega Famodun, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, to desist from causing trouble in Igbajo, a peaceful community in the state.
According to a statement released by the Governor’s spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale, Famodun, who was recently removed as the Owa Igbajo by the current administration, is trying to foment trouble in the community by fixing a conflicting date for the Oroke festival, a culturally significant event in Igbajo.
The government has declared that the officially recognized date for the Oroke Day Festival remains May 23rd, as fixed by the legally crowned king of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde. Any attempt by Famodun’s faction to hold a parallel festival on a different date will be considered a nullity and a threat to peace and security in the community.
Governor Adeleke has directed security agencies to deal decisively with any troublemaker who attempts to disrupt the peace and security of Igbajo.
The people of Igbajo have been urged to remain calm and law-abiding, and to resist any attempt by Famodun’s faction to cause trouble in the community. The government has assured the people of Igbajo of its commitment to their safety and well-being, and has vowed to do everything possible to protect them from harm.
In a related development, the state government has called on traditional leaders and stakeholders in Igbajo to support the efforts of the government to maintain peace and security in the community. The government has also appealed to the people of Igbajo to report any suspicious activities or potential threats to peace and security to the appropriate authorities.
The statement reads, “Reports at the disposal of the government indicated an attempt by a faction belonging to Mr Famodun to create conflict at Igbajo by fixing a different festival date from the one officially announced by the legal and officially crowned king of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde. This effort is designed to create violence and crisis in the peaceful town of Igbajo.
“As a government, we reiterate that the Monarch of Igbajo today is Oba Ademola Makinde and the May 23rd already fixed for the Oroke Day Festival remains the sacrosanct date for the popular cultural and traditionally significant event.
“We note further that the Head of Igbajo traditional institution remains the present Owa of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde and he is therefore empowered and entitled to fix the day for the Oroke festival. Actions of the Famodun faction is therefore against tradition and law and is therefore a nullity.
“In a bid to forestall breakdown of law and order and in line with my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Osun state, I direct security agencies to enforce the holding of the Oroke festival on the official date of May 23rd and to ensure no gathering is held on May 19th set by any other faction.
“The above directive and actions are taken to maintain peace and protect the ancient town from those hell-bent on manipulating the traditional institution to destabilize the state”, the statement quote the Governor.