The Otaru of Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area
of Edo State, Oba Adeche Saiki, has decried the crisis that engulfed the
community penultimate Wednesday, attributing it to the insistence of
“some disgruntled elements” to observe a masquerade festival that has
been banned since 1989.
The monarch, who was in Edo State Government House on Saturday evening, briefed governor Adams Oshiomhole on what led to a fracas in the community where some persons were attacked and shot and some others arrested by the police, told the governor that some persons, who undermined his rulership insisted on holding the Ekuochi Festival that has tendencies of dividing the community.
He said various interest groups including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had in the past written to the government for the outright ban of the festival.
He said the proponents of the festival were those who have been using every means to debase his stool, adding that not less than five commissions of enquiry were instituted by various governments on the matter.
He listed the commission as Stanfield Commission of 1953, Akoko-Edo Division Commission of Enquiry of 1957, Halims Commission of 1968 and Justice S. O. Ighodaro Chieftaincy Review of 1968.
He said: the commission maintained that the Otaru was the traditional ruler of Igarra, adding that court declaration of 31st October 1985, Court of Appeal Ruling of 1991 and a recent 2010 court ruling all reaffirmed his position.
“These disgruntled elements have sworn to use all available resources at their disposal to cause total breakdown of law, peace and order in Igarra to spite the position of the Otaru. They are hiding under the cover of the Ekuochi Masquerade to perpetrate their nefarious acts. No law abiding and right thinking persons would subscribe to the outing of the Ekuochi masquerades,” the traditional ruler said.
He told Governor Oshiomhole that the reason he insisted that the festival remained banned was that, it had led to the killing of one Simpa Olu in 1982; a woman, Mrs Awawu Odu in 1985 and a man, Pendo Attah, in 2005.
Governor Oshiomhole, in his response, said: the state government recognises the Otaru as the traditional ruler of Igarra, just as he said the government would look into documentations relating to the banning of the festival and come out with a position.
The monarch, who was in Edo State Government House on Saturday evening, briefed governor Adams Oshiomhole on what led to a fracas in the community where some persons were attacked and shot and some others arrested by the police, told the governor that some persons, who undermined his rulership insisted on holding the Ekuochi Festival that has tendencies of dividing the community.
He said various interest groups including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had in the past written to the government for the outright ban of the festival.
He said the proponents of the festival were those who have been using every means to debase his stool, adding that not less than five commissions of enquiry were instituted by various governments on the matter.
He listed the commission as Stanfield Commission of 1953, Akoko-Edo Division Commission of Enquiry of 1957, Halims Commission of 1968 and Justice S. O. Ighodaro Chieftaincy Review of 1968.
He said: the commission maintained that the Otaru was the traditional ruler of Igarra, adding that court declaration of 31st October 1985, Court of Appeal Ruling of 1991 and a recent 2010 court ruling all reaffirmed his position.
“These disgruntled elements have sworn to use all available resources at their disposal to cause total breakdown of law, peace and order in Igarra to spite the position of the Otaru. They are hiding under the cover of the Ekuochi Masquerade to perpetrate their nefarious acts. No law abiding and right thinking persons would subscribe to the outing of the Ekuochi masquerades,” the traditional ruler said.
He told Governor Oshiomhole that the reason he insisted that the festival remained banned was that, it had led to the killing of one Simpa Olu in 1982; a woman, Mrs Awawu Odu in 1985 and a man, Pendo Attah, in 2005.
Governor Oshiomhole, in his response, said: the state government recognises the Otaru as the traditional ruler of Igarra, just as he said the government would look into documentations relating to the banning of the festival and come out with a position.
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