Mooning, locally known as ‘sagging,’ has been outlawed in Ogbagi Akoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The move to ban ‘sagging’ followed what the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Victor Adetona Ojo, described as “an alien culture being
incorporated into the decent way of life that the people of the town are known for. Come to think of it, it is a form of deviant behavior. “
Oba Adetona, who spoke with our correspondent on the matter, said,, “It’s very nauseating to see both old and young, boys and girls, now wearing shots half-way up their waist while at the same time exposing their nakedness to the general public, all
in the name of fashion. This is quite unacceptable to me as an educated Oba and my people, in general, as civilised individuals”.
On whether the decision to clamp down on those youngsters known to be indulging in this form of dressing was solely taken by him, the monarch said, “I confer with my Chiefs on the need to stem the tide of criminality within our domain. We would not need any soothsayer to tell us that the act of sagging by our youths could lead to incidence of rape. We would not allow it to happen before we do something fast about it.”
He also warned that any of the town’s youths caught ‘sagging’ his trousers or dressing provocatively would either be flogged publicly or made to do community work within
the palace for a period of time he and his chiefs deemed fit for such an offence.
“Community Service is still the best way to correct wrong doings. It works in America and elsewhere. We need to give our youths a sense of belonging. We all know that mooning
may not necessarily earn anybody a jail term, since there is no known law against it, but it would be an eyesore to allow such an insanity among the youth to go on unchallenged. We would not allow it to become a tradition,” he said.
I did not enlist in the Nigeria Police Force for the purpose of lining my pockets with money. I cherish the police medals for excellence than money
Oba Adetona further explained that mooning, to some degree, and the act of exposing one’s buttocks, were often the trade marks of some naughty youths working as bus conductors as well as drunk students of tertiary institutions.
“I have been to Lagos, seen the act, which is very common among bus conductors. To me, it is nothing short of an offensive behaviour .Now, I go about the community with horse whips, and I instantly punish anyone caught ‘sagging.’ I whip them in the
presence of their parents to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
