The Olubadan of Ibadan land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 has expressed satisfaction with the compliance of his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compound of embattled High Chiefs until further notice, saying that he had no regret issuing the royal directive.
The first class monarch in a press statement signed his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs Adeola Oloko stated that the egungun festival purportedly staged at a location somewhere in Alli Iwo yesterday and advised the listeners to beware of falsehood.
He stated that 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. Ask he “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.
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.”
While expressing 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.
