His Royal Highness, Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II, JP, Oshinoyi Ariwo Ovejijo, the Otaru of Igarra and the paramount traditional ruler of Igarra/Akuku Clan in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, has suspended Ekuechi, Okeshi, Ebe and Eika festivals, including daytime masquerades throughout Igarra Kingdom.
Making this announcement during the monthly palace meeting held on Wednesday, HRH Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II, regretted that the age-long yearly traditional activities which, hitherto, were nothing less than funfare throughout Igarra community had unfortunately become regular platforms for unleashing fightings, hate speeches, unhealthy rivalries, among others.
The Oba while addressing a mammoth crowd of his subjects in his royal palace, announced that the suspension took effect from February 15 2025.
According to him, his choice of 15th February, 2025 as the effective date, rather than with immediate effect as insinuated in some quarters, is to enable his royal palace formally communicate it to all the stakeholders, including the festivals’ regulatory committee and all the necessary security agencies.
He, however, warned that, until his royal palace’s decision took effect, the custodian of any daytime masquerade and its manager who, henceforth, engage in any form of fighting thereby leading to the breakdown of laws and orders in the community would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
A sizeable proportion of Igarra sons and daughters, both at home and in diaspora have given kudos to HRH Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II for holding the bull by its horns to decide on the lingering challenge which, according to them, is capable of marring the community’s overall development.
It would be recalled that few days ago and also yesterday, some daytime masquerades clashed with several casualties unceremoniously recorded.
—By Ray Festus Symperr.
