By KEMI KASUMU
Update from Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State over the Deji of Akure’s Aheregbe festival has it that although first attempt early morning to enforce markets and shops shutdown as directed by the Akure monarch was rescinded, a second attempt by police to again do so in what it claimed to be in the name of peace also failed.
This was because, old women selling in the market refused to shutdown despite the police presence and instruction for them to close down at 3pm.
Security operatives, in trying to enforce the closure of Isinkan markets and shops on an acclaimed order of the Ondo State Government, had driven into the popular Isinkan Market with mission to send traders out and then lock the market gates.
The operatives were said to have informed the traders that Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, and Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ojo Olofin-Adimula, had agreed that to allow peace to reign, the Isinkan Market be closed down.
The DEFENDER reports that in Akure domain of Deji, not only markets are affected in the traditional shutdown but also shops in the streets of areas covered by the traditional rites.
By extending that to Isinkan, it means the Deji, who is not the Oba of the land, expects that markets and shops in the Isinkan township should also follow suit but the authority of the land, Iralepo, asserted his position.
He said it is against the traditional grand norm and understanding that is known to history of Akure, Isinkan and, as additionally gathered, the Isolo townships, which some modern persons in Akure are labouring hard, albeit unsuccessfully, to deny and rewrite.
Business activities had earlier taken place at the Isinkan markets in the morning till 11:00am when police came to stop them but without success as they were told by higher authorities within the Force that it is not their business to shut down markets but to ensure the maintenance of law and order.
It was learned that the government intervened by asking both sides to maintain the peace and allow Isinkan markets to be shut down.
This was reportedly confirmed by the Iralepo of Isinkan Kingdom, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula Arulewolasi III, who addressed his subjects at his palace and said the market was closed for security reasons.
This police enforcement was followed by some traders, who were seen covering up their markets until the old women, believed to be vast in the customs and traditions of the land, refused to shut down because, according to them, to shut down the Isinkan Market will mean that the Oba of the land has passed on whereas that is not the case.
At this point, the DPO in charge of the operation was informed and, upon intervention from the Ondo State Police Command, it was said that it is not the business of the police to but of respective Oba to close down any market, they departed and trading activities continued till the time of filing this report, Monday night.
Aheregbe festival is celebrated by the Akure people and the commercial activities shutdown on order of traditional leader of the kingdom, Deji, is binding only on traditional jurisdiction of the Deji but not on the two other adjoining towns, the Isolo and Isinkan, both of which have their Obas and traditional wats different from that of Akure.
Markets in most parts of Akure, where Deji is king, were therefore naturally shut down to celebrate the festival Monday as directed by Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure Kingdom.
However, speaking on the situation, the Ondo State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, reportedly said it was not the duty of the police to enforce market closure during traditional festival.
Odunlami noted that the duty of the policemen, who were at Isinkan area, was to maintain law and order as well as preventing breakdown of peace.
