Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
Egba high chiefs have threatened to invoke the wrath of their ancestors on any mischievous element that does anything capable of bringing their traditional institution to ridicule.
Egba high chiefs have threatened to invoke the wrath of their ancestors on any mischievous element that does anything capable of bringing their traditional institution to ridicule.
Speaking at a press conference Sunday, the chiefs, led by Oluwo Egba, Chief E. Adeyemi Adeboye, also denied barring Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from the palace of Alake of Egba.
"Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, is a much respected high chief of Egbaland who had made tremendous contributions to see that our Alake got the best rites of passage. It is objectionable that some journalists would allow themselves to be used to publish lies as a means to desecrate the Egba traditional institution and cause disharmony amongst the Egbas and the government of the state," the chiefs said.
The Oluwo Egba, who spoke for the chiefs, described the report on the barring of Governor Daniel as "an insult to the sensibilities of Egba chiefs derisively referred to as ritualists".
"We state without fear of contradiction that we would not allow the demise of Alake to be politicised by mischievous elements. We hereby warn journalists to desist from allowing themselves to be used to fan the embers of discord in our land".
Oluwo Egba urged journalists to seek clarification on any matter concerning the burial rites of their beloved monarch from him.
Those present at the conference were Chief Segun Taiwo (Oluwo Ake), Zaccheus Dopamu Kemta, (Oluwo Kemta), Chief Adedayo Somoye, (Oluwo Iporo) and Chief Kehinde Sofenwa (Bagbile of Itoku), who represented the Oluwo Itoku.
It would be recalled that national newspapers had reported Sunday, that Governor Daniel was stopped from visiting the late Alake's place on Saturday, following the performance of some rituals relating to the monarch's burial.
In announcing the passing on of the Alake, Egba high chiefs had said, in a statement, that "normal traditional rites of the passage of the Kabiyesi have commenced in earnest."