The Mogaji of Omotara Okugbaja compound in Ita Baale Ori Okiti in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Chief Oladejo Moruf Rufai has appealed to masquerades and their followers to avoid the use of weapons during Egungun, Masquerades, festival.
Making this appeal in a statement, on Monday, Rufai noted that this is necessary to avoid any form of violence during the festival.
Our correspondent gathered that the Egungun festival is slated to begin on Sunday.
Ahead of the festivities, the leader of the masquerades who hails from Okugbaja compound, Chief Moshood Okugbaja on Monday, welcomed masquerades into the Olubadan palace to formally declare the festival open.
Rufai, has, however, urged participating masquerades and their followers to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the festival.
He tasked masquerades to avoid the use of weapons that could hurt anyone, adding that this will reduce violence during the festival.
“We flagged off Egungun festival in our compound yesterday. The Olori Alagba Ile Ibadan, Chief Moshood Okugbaja is also from our compound.
“I want to appeal to all masquerades and their followers to conduct themselves peacefully. They should shun any form of weapons during the festival.
“This will help to avoid any form of violence and clashes that usually characterised the festival in the past.
“Ibadan people are people of peace and tranquility. Gone are the days when violence was the other of the day, we are peace loving people in Ibadan.
“I want to say that no masquerade should move with weapons and their followers should also do the same to avoid any form of clashes”.
