The Chief of Staff to the Alaafin of Oyo, Mr. Rotimi Osuntola, has addressed concerns regarding the curfew imposed on Oyo town following the commencement of the 21-day traditional rites, known as Oro Ipebi.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Osuntola explained that misinterpretations arose due to certain wording in an earlier announcement.
He emphasised that the curfew is not intended to undermine any religious group but is part of the customary rites for the ascendancy of Aláyélúwà Oba Abimbola Abdul-Akeem Òwóadé I to the throne.
“The Office of the Chief of Staff to His Imperial Majesty, the Aláàfin of Oyo, has noted the sentiments expressed by some residents regarding movement restrictions during certain hours. The ongoing Orò Ipębí rites are a traditional process in respect of the new king’s enthronement,” the statement read in part.
The clarification comes amid discussions on the curfew’s impact, ensuring that the community understands its cultural significance.
“While the employment of words such as “curfew”, “arrest” and “detention” were used in earlier release that emanated from this office, they were used in the loose traditional sense of anytime Orò rites are performed in Òyó 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.
“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.
“His Imperial majesty Oba Abimbola Owoade 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”
The Nation reports that a Yoruba Muslims group under the aegis of Yoruba Muslims for Freedom (YMF) had at the weekend addressed a press conference where they called on the Directorate of the State Security (DSS) to immediately arrest and prosecute the Alaafin of Oyo for creating what they described as, ‘State inside a state’.
At the briefing which held in Oyo, the group’s spokesman, Lateef Akinwale had condemned in the strongest terms what he called the unlawful and autocratic declaration of a curfew as imposed by the Alàáfin of Oyo, Oba Owoade
Akinwale had said, “We the people of Oyo and the defenders of fundamental freedoms, condemns in the strongest possible terms the unlawful and autocratic declaration of a curfew imposed by the Alàáfin of Oyo, One Abimbola Akeem Owoade.
“This arbitrary curfew, declared by a non-state actor stands null and void. No part of the Nigerian Constitution empowered a monarch to declare curfew anywhere in the country. Curfew is within the power of a civil government, it is not within the power of any traditional ruler. Only the President or the governor can declare a curfew.
“The Alàáfin is not a sovereign ruler of the land; he is a traditional figure who holds no legal or constitutional authority to declare such sweeping restrictions over the people. By unilaterally attempting to impose a curfew, he is creating a state within a state, an authoritarian mini-empire that operates outside of the rule of law, ignoring the basic principles of democratic governance and individual freedoms.
“This is an affront to the sovereignty of the Nigerian state, and to the fundamental rights of every citizen who resides within Oyo Township”‘.
However, while reacting to the development, a member of Alaafin’s media team, Bode Durojaiye described the media briefing as “malicious, tendencious, unfounded and a calculated attempt to inflame tension capable of causing religious disharmony”.
Durojaiye said, if not for mischief making, the Musilm community group must not be oblivious about Oyo traditional monarchy system, hence the need to properly educate and inform the group to discontinue feeding the media with misinformation.
He said It is customary in Oyo traditional monarchy system that during the period of Oro Ipebi (mandatory traditional rites) restriction of movement must be enforced,hence the imposition of the curfew.
Durojaiye stated that the curfew which was initially imposed between the hours of 8pm and 6pm, was adjusted to hours of 10pm and 4:30am on the orders of the Alaafin.
“The curfew, according to the Alaafin, needed to be adjusted to accommodate Ramadan. This includes allowing for the early morning Fajr prayer and the evening Taraweeh prayer, which are important for Muslims during this fasting month.
“So, what is unconstitutional in the declaration of curfew and why is it a blatant attempt to suppress the freedoms of the people, and a direct violation of their rights to free movement, autonomy, and liberty, when customary laws are alien to the Nigerian constitution?
“Why are traditional institutions so important to government and why are the custodians of culture and traditions?
“The arrest and detention of those who defy the restriction order was aimed strictly adherence to the curfew imposition and neither a threat for chaos in the peaceful pacesetter State.
“In fact, the good people of the serene town have been adhering to the restriction order without affectionate or ill-will, as Christians, Muslims and traditional religious faithfuls obey the order without any coercion”.
Durojaiye went further, “Alaafin Owoade is of the conviction that peace, a fundamental human aspiration, is the cornerstone of individual, communal, and global well-being.
“To the monarch, the absence of peace can lead to devastating consequences, including conflict, displacement, and human suffering. In today’s interconnected world, the importance of peace cannot be overstated.
“Peace , the Monarch stressed, is not an idealistic dream; it is a pragmatic necessity. Its benefits are undeniable, and its absence has devastating consequences. As individuals, communities, and nations, we must strive for peace, addressing the challenges and working together towards a harmonious world.
“Peaceful coexistence, Alaafin insisted, foster’s social cohesion: shared values, mutual respect, while promoting conflict resolution: dialogue, mediation, encourage diversity, inclusion, and tolerance.”
Durojaiye asserted that calling for the arrest of the Alaafin by the Muslim group is not only laughable, an overstatement, but a blatant disregard to the Islamic injunction on respect to the authorities, especially traditional rulers.
