AHEREGBE, MARKET CLOSURE ORDER: Osolo reports Deji of Akure to Ondo Govt over plan to cause crisis in Isolo town

*Keep your markets, shops open Friday August 25, Osolo tells residents

*Says Aheregbe not Isolo festival

*Ondo’s standing law bans Deji from encroaching on Isolo territory – Records

*Isolo annual festival, ‘Owayoko’, holds 13th-14th September, 2023 – Palace

By KEMI KASUMU

His Royal Highness Oba Edward Kolawole Adejoyegbe Adewole, Osalade II, the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Isolo, Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, has said that the Palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, is planning to cause crisis in Isolo town with his planned extension of Aheregbe festival and market closure order to the town.

These were the words of Ayomide Micheal, the Special Assistabt to the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom on Media and Administration, as contained in a statement dated Auditor 24, 2023 and copied to the Nigerian media including The DEFENDER on Thursday.

For the preclusion of crisis this will cause, the Kabiyesi, Oba Edward Adewole has filed a petition to the Executive Governor of Ondo State, who is the only consenting authority on all chieftaincy matters by law in the state, to be in notice and take action before the Deji of Akure disrupts the now enduring communal peace that government has achieved across the state communities, the statement said.

The king also filed similar letter alerting the Commandant of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) about “PURPORTED PLAN TO STIR CRISIS IN THE STATE BY HOODLUMS WHO PLAN TO TRESSPASS INTO ISOLO TOWN DURING AHEREGBE “DUDUDU” FESTIVAL, THE NEED OF AMOTEKUN SECURITY PRESENCE IN ISOLO TOWN.”

In the letter to the governor entitled, “A CALL TO GOVERNMENT TO CALL DEJI TO DESIST FROM HIS PURPORTED PLAN TO STIR CRISIS IN THE STATE BY HIS PLAN TO TRESPASS INTO ISOLO TOWN DURING AHEREGBE “DUDUDU” FESTIVAL”, the Osolo said:

“It is a standing instruction to all monarchs within the state not to go beyond the shore of their boundaries come what may. Also the State Executive Council resolved and directed that closure of markets during traditional festivals without government’s approval would no longer be tolerated. The government also said such markets’ closure should be limited to the kings’ markets which are usually located within the premises of the palaces within such towns and villages.

“The information within the disposal of Osolo in Council is that Deji of Akure His Royal Majesty Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II is planning to cross beyond his boundary into Isolo during “Aheregbe” known as “Dududu” festival which is slated to take place on Friday 25th August, 2023.

“Your Excellency Sir, such action of trespass would cause crisis within the two towns and by extension state unrest as the festival does not in any way has connection with Isolo town. And for this reason all shops and markets in Isolo town namely; Isolo Junction market, Osolo’s market, Maronu Market, Onyearugbulem market, Umeruku-imuyinwa market will be opened. Any attempt of Deji to trespass into these markets can bring about communal crisis.

“Osolo in Council here wish to appeal to your Excellency for government to warn His Royal Majesty the Deji of Akure to desist from his purported plan of trespassing into Isolo during and after the festival.

“We remain grateful to the government on its resolve for peace, harmony and development in the state,” the Osolo’s letter with Ref: OP/AD/ODSG/GO/2023/06 and dated August, 2023 stated.

Established fact of history attested to, by government and undisputable traditions in Ondo State has confirmed time without number that the ancient Isolo and Isinkan, which are separate from Akure, have no connection with Aheregbe festival and, therefore, neither Akure nor any sitting Deji has permission to encroach on their territories, as doing so will be tantamount to disrespect of law by the Deji of Akure.

Keep your markets, shops open, Osolo orders residents

In a separate statement on Thursday August 24 while exercising his legal rights as the prescribing authority over his domain, the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Edward Adewole instructed residents of the town to go about their normal business on the date as, according to him, Aheregbe (Dududu) is not Isolo festival and markets and shops cannot therefore be closed because of that on Friday August 25, 2023.

“Tradition is peculiar to Communities, towns and villages,” he said.

The monarch, while speaking from his palace, explained that “Aheregbe” known as “Dududu” is a festival of Oba-Ile people which does not concern Isolo a separate town.

Oba Osolo stated further that Isolo people do not share the same tradition with Akure, and then ordered that “all shops and markets in Isolo should be opened on Friday 25th August, 2023.”

The monarch used the medium to inform all residents of Isolo of the annual “Owayoko” festival coming up on the 13th and 14th September, 2023.”

Ondo govt

The Ondo State Executive Council had on August 22, 2022 discussed the issue of indiscriminate halting of commercial activities by monarchs with special focus on the Aheregbe traditional festival, at the end of which it issued a circular to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies informing them of the decision it had reached and ordering full enforcement of same.

The state government, still the ongoing Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Administration in the circular signed by Secretary to the State Government, asked the enforcing agencies to note that only Obas’ markets in their domains should be closed during these festivals in affected areas, subject to approval of Mr. Governor”.