Tension as govt, police warn against festival celebration

Juliana Francis

Residents of the ancient town of Ado –Odo Ota in Ogun State are tensed following police and government order in the state, that a planned celebration of  ‘Ilun dun Festival,’ must not hold.

It may be recalled that the monarch of the town was some months ago attacked, along with his wife.

The monarch was stripped naked by hoodlums who opposed his ascension to the throne of Olofin Adimula of Ado Odo.

Some indigenes of the town, believed to be opponents of the monarch of the town, Oba Abdul Lateef Akanni have insisted on celebrating the Ilundun Festival.

The insistence of some of these indigenes had led to protest and condemnation from some sections of the town that are loyal to the embattled monarch.

The supporters of the monarch have also threatened to disrupt any festival.

This tensed situation in the town had created panic among the residents.

It was further learnt that the insistence of the organizers of the festival to go ahead with the ceremony, was in flagrant disregard of the state government and the police order in the state.

The Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, through a letter dated September, 23, warned the organizers to desist from staging the festival.

The Ministry, in the letter signed by one O A Aderinwale on behalf of the permanent secretary, states: “I have been directed to strictly advise all well- meaning people and residents of Ado Odo to desist from anything that can further create chaos and disorder in the community, pending the outcome of the state government‘s decision on the communal crisis that erupted in Ado Odo. You are not for any reason expected to celebrate any festival tagged ‘Ilu Ndun Day’, under the present situation in Ado Odo as such act could precipitate a crisis situation again.”

The police at Sango Ota Area Command, in a move to forestall a breakdown of law and other in the volatile community had on Wednesday invited members of the two groups in the town to warn them.

The organizers of the festival allegedly told the police that they were not aware that the state government had stopped the celebration of Ilu Ndun Day.

The town was however thrown into panic on Friday after residents heard that opponents of the embattled monarch had continued with the plan to hold the festival after the Sallah celebration.