Fear Grips Ile Ife
Residents Over Daylight Curfew
Residents of Ile-Ife are currently in fear over the planned Oro to conclude the rite of passage of the demised foremost Yoruba traditional ruler, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II.
The Ile-Ife palace had on Monday declared a curfew for Wednesday (today) from 9am to 4pm.
As part of the Oro rites, all the residents, including male and female, have been warned to remain indoors.
Earlier, Daily Times had reported that an important ingredient for the burial rites was missing.
While declaring the curfew, the palace in a statement said, "This is an official statement from the palace of Awara of Iwara-Ife who is the head of Oro deity that on Wednesday 12th August 2015, there would be official proclamation of the demise of Ooni of Ife. The proclamation will be made public during the Oro festival, being the final rites on the demise of Ooni of Ife.
"The residents of the ancient town are therefore urged to keep away from the streets between the hours of 9am and 4pm during which the Oro deity will be out. With the announcement, people are advised to stay in-door for the period when the Oro will be out."
When our correspondents visited Ile-Ife on Tuesday, most of the residents no longer showed interest in coming out.
Some of the residents, who spoke to our correspondents, said that they suspected foul play on the part of the Oro cult organisers in Ile Ife.
According to them, there is a counter announcement that the curfew has been lifted.
"The announcement is just an attempt to tempt people. That's unfair and only those who are not used to our tradition will fall victim," one of the residents added.
Also, the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have warned students to stay off from areas where the Oro activities would hold.
This was contained in a circular by the acting Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. (Mrs) Lateefat Durosinmi on Tuesday.
Durosimi advised the students to remain indoors pending the completion of the Oro rites.
Her statement read: "This is to inform the generality of students that there shall be a curfew in Ile-Ife on Wednesday, 12th August, 2015 from 9.00am to 4pm and from 11pm till dawn.
"Students are therefore strongly advised to stay on campus and those off-campus to remain indoors.
"The division of student affairs counts on the maturity and sense of responsibility of great Ife students and appeals to all students to comply with this information and continue to keep the peace."
http://dailytimes.com.ng/fear-grips-ile-ife-residents-daylight-curfew/
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
0 comments:
Post a Comment