PRESS RELEASE
CLOSURE OF MARKETS AND SHOPS IN OBSERVANCE OF ANNUAL AHEREGBE FESTIVAL
The Palace of the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom wishes to inform residents of Akure that all Markets and Shops in Akure will be shut on Monday 22nd August, 2022
2. The closure becomes necessary as part of the age long tradition in observance of the annual Aheregbe Festival.
3. The Palace wishes to inform residents that no trading or opening of shops under any guise will be allowed during the festival.
4. It is imperative to clarify that ONLY Pharmacy shops and Patent Medicine Stores will be allowed to open during the festival
5. Residents, Market Women and shop owners are kindly enjoined to comply with this directive.
6. However, the festival will not restrict both human and vehicular movement.
7. Akure a gbe a oo
Signed.
Adeyeye Michael
Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure.
August 20, 2022.
~ Another announcement from Iralepo of Isinkan
JUST IN: Akure: Iralepo Congratulates Deji over Aheregbe Festival, invites Akure residents to shop in Isikan
…Says Markets and Shops in Isinkan Domain ‘ll Open for Business
The Iralepo of Isinkan Kingdom, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) has congratulated the Deji of Akure kingdom over the Aheregbe festival. He prayed for the success of the festival and wished the Deji well in the activities lined up for the 2022 edition of the festival.
The Iralepo used the opportunity to invite shoppers in Akure to come to Isinkan for their business and shoppings during the Aheregbe period as shops and businesses shall remain open in every part of the Isikan domain.
Apparently reacting to a statement issued by the Deji’s palace that market and shops should be closed in observance of the annual Aheregbe Festival, Oba Olofin-Adimula said such directive does not affect traders in Isinkan Kingdom.
In a statement personally signed, the Iralepo who said it is a taboo to bring such festival to Isinkan said forcing such on the community would have grave consequences.
While saying though Akure and Isinkan share what some may consider blurred boundaries, the Monarch said indigenes of the two communities know their domains. Their boundaries are not blurred.
“For the purpose of emphasis, I will like to say that Isinkan shares boundary with Akure at Imogun, just before Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church, Isinkan, and Ondo at Owena river. In all these areas markets and shops are not closed for Aheregbe festival.
It is a taboo and has consequence on Isinkan Community as well as the priest of the festival. So, for peace to reign, Akure people should not bring the festival to my community and neither can they enforce market and shop closure here. This statement is necessary in order to remove any iota of doubt,” he said.
While saying security agencies have been informed about the development, Oba Olofin-Adimula enjoined all market women and traders on Isinkan land to go about their lawful businesses.
He equally enjoined the youths of the community to remain calm.
Also, the Elemo of Isinkan, High Chief Olasehinde Abidakun while providing clarification explained that Isinkan community is not and has never been part of Aheregbe festival celebration of the people of Akure or any other such celebrations.
The Elemo stated that all Akure festivals stop at Imogun. He explained further that exporting Akure festivals into Isikan land will amount to courting trouble and affirmed the support of all the chiefs and people of Isikan for Oba Arulewolasi.
