The lesser Obas in Ibadan have questioned the right of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Soliu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1, to cancel the annual Egungun dance in their residences against the traditiion.
It will be recalled that the Olubadan announced the cancellation of the Egungun dance at their residences in a statement issued on Sunday by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Adeola Oloko citing security reason.
The lesser Obas who double as Ibadan High Chiefs, after a meeting held at the Alarere, Ibadan residence of the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, described the directive as arbitrary use of power.
In a statement signed by Balogun and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday, the aggrieved Obas said that the directive would be resisted.
Their statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the directive by our reverred father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Soliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 that the usual annual masquerade dance in our residences would not hold this year due to a phantom security threat, a directive we reject in its entirety.
“As far as we are concerned, the directive was
arbitrary use of power and authority, we won’t take it. Our father (Olubadan) wants to distort and destroy the tradition and wants to use us to fight tradition, but, we won’t succumb to his antics.
“The same Olubadan solicited for the hosting of the Egungun authority from the late Oba Odugade Odulana when he was about five steps away from his present position and his request was granted.
“We therefore tend to ask him that of what benefit would his outrageous order be to him? Except for extraneous reason as we just pointed out, how can one explain that security would be threatened only when the masquerades come to dance in our residences and not when they went to his palace?
“It is on record that whenever the security and peace of the ancient city is threatened as we had some years ago, the annual Egungun festival was not allowed to hold at all in the entire Ibadanland and not that a section of the city was segregated as being canvassed by our reverred monarch”.
The statement said that the Olubadan-in-Council, which is the advisory body to Olubadan was not carried along in the decision, saying, “Hosting the Egungun is our right and confers on us responsibility by virtue of our positions as High Chiefs and Obas.”
