COVID-19: 2021 Ojude Oba festival cancelled

Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos

In view of the ugly threat to life by the deadly coronavirus disease, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona has approved the cancellation of the 2021 edition of the annual Ojude Oba Festival of Ijebu Ode.

This was communicated via a statement issued on Thursday by the Coordinator of the festival and Baagbimo of Ijebu, Chief (Dr.) Fassy Yusuf.

According to the Chief, the monarch deemed it fit to approve the cancellation of the festival due to the likely upsurge of the disease citing the presence of the Delta variant and the negligible number of people that had taken the anti-COVID 19 vaccine.

“Rather than expose peoples who will converge on Ijebu Ode from all over the world to participate in the ancient and unique socio-cultural and religious festival of the Ijebu nation, with its parade of traditional-age groups and the spectacular durbar with unsurpassable equestrian display, to avoidable and preventable health hazards, the monarch directed that the 2021 edition be cancelled,” Chief Yusuf stated.

The festival for the second consecutive time will be cancelled since its inception over a century ago, an occasion according to the Chief is one that unites Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other faiths.

The Ojude Oba Festival is normally held two days after the Eid-el Kabir (Ileya).

“The occasion of the 2021 Eid-el Kabir (10th of Dhul-Hijja 1442 AH), the monarch thanked his subjects for the peace, progress, and tranquillity pervading Ijebuland. He prayed for additional economic and social prosperity within Ijebuland and charged his people to remain resolute and be optimistic that sooner than later, Ijebu State would become a reality,” Chief Yusuf added.

Oba Adetona further charged his people and visitors to Ijebuland during and after the festival to ensure they wear their nose masks, wash their hands regularly with soap, keep social and physical distances at public places, get vaccinated against the pandemic, and adhere to other medical protocols as directed by the federal, state, and local government authorities.

He thanked all the sponsors of the festival for the mutually beneficial partnerships that have ensured the unparalleled success of the annual festival in the past, while also hoping that the 2022 edition would be a reality.

He further thanked his subjects for their unflinching love, affection, loyalty, and solidarity in his sixty-one years on the throne as Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

Chief Yusuf disclosed that while the monarch regrets that COVID-19 would not allow him to host his usual guests and visitors, he assures all that he is in high spirit and will be celebrating the Eid-el Kabir with his family and very few others as dictated by medical protocols. Oba Adetona prayed for the return of peace and prosperity to all troubled areas of our great and beloved country, Nigeria.