By: BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Thursday stated that his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compound of embattled High Chiefs until further notice is still in force and yet flouted .
Oba Adetunji in a statement made available to newsmen by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Adeola Oloko, expressed satisfaction with the compliance of his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compound of embattled High Chiefs until further notice.
The Olubadan pointed out that he had no regret issuing the royal directive, saying, .the egungun that purportedly staged at a location somewhere in Alli Iwo on Wednesday was not true and that the public should beware of falsehood.
According to Oba Adetunji, when the masquerades came to pay homage in the Olubadan palace last Monday, there are photographs that could be verified in the papers and names of the masqueraders who were there. saying, “where are their photographs? What are the names of the masqueraders?
“Even Atipako, the leading masquerade who was reported to have honour High Chief Lekan Balogun was not there as the Atipako family of Kobomoje, Ibadan had issue a disclaimer, ” saying, “Part of the text dated 21st June, 2018 addressed to Olubadan and signed by Tajudeen Oladimeji and Kazim Atipako, both Abe’ja and Eleru Atipako respectively reads “We, the undersigned and entire members of Atipako family did not in any way disobey the directive of the Olubadan. We did not attend masquerade dance nor performed any ritual for the Otun Olubadan as reported in some quarters.”
“One Rashidat who is claiming to be one of us is not a member of our family and was not sent to anybody and therefore as a woman, she is not permitted to perform ritual.”
Oba Adetunji however expressed appreciation to the masqueraders for carrying out the royal directive to the letter, Olubadan stated that the make-belief being created is a price for rebellion as the people of Ibadan have spoken.
