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By Oluseye Ojo
The Alaafin-designate, Abimbola Owoade, has clarified issues on the restriction movement in Oyo town during the ongoing mandatory seclusion rites (Oro Ipebi) for his ascendancy to the throne.
A statement by his Chief of Staff, Rotimi Osuntola, yesterday, quoted him to have said people were free to move in Oyo town in accordance with the dictates of the law on free movement but they should only restrict their movement in areas where the Oro rites would not be performed to avoid friction with traditionalists.
The curfew was initially fixed for six hours and 30 minutes, commencing from 10p.m on Friday, March 8 to 4:30am on Saturday March 29, ahead of the official coronation of the new Alaafin on Saturday April 5.
Osuntola revealed that he Alaafin has noted the sentiments expressed by a section of Oyo populace “on restriction of movements during certain hours of the day announced in view of the ongoing Orò Ipebí being currently performed in respect of Alayeluwa Oba Abimbola Abdul-Akeem owoade’s ascendancy to the throne of the Alaafin.
“While the employment of words such as ‘curfew’, ‘arrest’, and ‘detention’ were used in earlier release that emanated from this office (Office of Chief of Staff), they were used in the loose traditional sense of anytime Oro rites are performed in Oyo Kingdom, and their interpretations should be seen as such, and not being coercive or meant to demean or profane the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten seasons, instead, they were just meant to encourage our people to be mindful of their movements during the traditional rites.
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“Therefore, the earlier release concerning curfew, arrest and detention of violators should be discountenanced. His Imperial Majesty himself, being a practicing Muslim and a man of Iman (faith), will never toy with human rights and freedoms enshrined and guaranteed by the constitution.”
Oba Owoade, according to Osuntola, “has directed that the issue of curfew be discountenanced. The Oba being a peace-loving king does not want disunity and disharmony amongst the subjects as the initial release was aimed at protecting the lives of all and sundry in Oyo town during the period of the Oro rites.
“The indigenes are advised to be careful with their movement in the areas where the Oro rites are being performed. It is customary in Oyo to ask for the restriction of movement during the Oro rites.
“However, the office of the Chief of Staff regrets the use of the words, curfew, arrests and detention and hereby accepts responsibility because the Oba had started the rites when the release was made.
“We enjoin the good people of Oyo to go about their normal duties without fear of arrest, detention and molestation.”
