Ondo monarch orders closure of markets, shops to celebrate festival

The Deji of Akure Kingdom in Ogun State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has announced the closure of all markets and shops within the metropolis on Tuesday in celebration of the Aheregbe Festival.

City & Crime reports that the Aheregbe Festival is an age-long tradition observed annually in the ancient kingdom.

In a statement, the Deji’s spokesman, Michael Adeyeye, said there should be no opening of businesses or trading throughout the period of the festival.

The statement reads in part: “The palace of the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom wishes to notify the residents of Akure and its environs that all markets and shops in Akure will be shut on Tuesday, 27th August, 2024.

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“The closure is an integral part of the requirement in observing the age-long tradition of the annual Aheregbe Festival.

“Sequel to this, there shall be no opening of markets, trading or opening of shops under any guise during the festival.

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

The spokesman said that only pharmaceutical shops were exempted from the directive due to the importance attached to the health sector. 

The statement reads further: “Notwithstanding, the festival will not in any way restrict both human and vehicular movement.”

City & Crime recalls that last year, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu reversed the trend of shutting down business places and markets for the celebration of the festival.

Late Akeredolu’s government frowned at the closure of the markets, saying the directive by the monarch infringed on the fundamental human rights of residents. 

The then government also complained that the monarch did not get approval before giving out the order.

It stressed that the action also constituted a clear violation of an existing order and an abridgment of the right of Akure residents to the pursuance of their livelihoods.

But when contacted on Monday on if the government’s order had ceased, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, said that the Aheregbe Festival was an age-long tradition of Akure Kingdom.