Ondo monarch, government bicker over closure of shops, markets for festival

The Ondo government and Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, the Deji of Akure, are at loggerheads over the monarch’s directive to stop commercial activities in Akure to celebrate the annual Aheregbe festival.

The monarch had directed that all markets and shops in Akure, the state capital, be shut down on Friday to celebrate the festival.

Micheal Adeyeye, chief press secretary to the traditional ruler, in a statement, noted the significance of the festival and its impact on the community.

According to Adeyeye, the shutting down of commercial activities during the festival is a long-standing custom that holds great importance in Akure’s tradition.

“It is important to emphasise that there shall be no trading or opening of shops under any guise during the festival,” the statement reads.

“Residents, market women, and shop owners are kindly enjoined to comply with this directive.

“However, only pharmacy shops and patent medicine stores are exempted from the closure of their shops during the festival.

“Moreover, the festival will not in any way restrict both human and vehicular movement.”

However, the Ondo state government said the monarch has no authority to issue such a directive.

Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the commissioner for information, said in a statement that the state’s executive council has resolved “there shall be no closure of markets in any part of the state without the approval of the Governor”.

“The statement credited to Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the Press Secretary of His Majesty, the Deji of Akure constitutes a clear violation of an existing order of the Government, and an abridgement of the right of Akure residents to the pursuance of their livelihood,” the commissioner said in a statement.

“The public should note that even if an approval was sought, such closure would have been limited to Ọjà Ọba (Oba’s Market) in Akure.

“We urge our respected Royal father, His Majesty, the Deji of Akure to respect the government decision and refrain from any action that can inconvenience, and, or inflict economic pain to Akure inhabitants.

“We also ask that the cordial relationship between the revered stool of the Deji not be drawn into open confrontation with the government.”

The commissioner asked residents to go about their businesses on Friday, saying that no market or shops would be closed by anyone either by coercion or threat of force during and after the festival.

He added that whoever flouts the warning will “draw the ire of the government”.