Crisis Rocks Ondo Community Over New Yam Festival Date

Following a disagreement between supporters and opponents of Oba Oluleke Ogunlade, Olubule of Ibule in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State, the annual New Yam Festival in the agrarian community was disrupted on Friday.

The annual festival, which usually mark the beginning of eating of new yam, led to sporadic shootings between those for and against the monarch of the town.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the selection process for Oba Oluleke Ogunlade is currently being challenged in the law court.

Since the installation of the monarch, there had been no love lost between the monarch and some indigenes who claimed that the process that led to his emergence was fraudulent.

It was gathered that the Olubule, Oba Ogunlade, had fixed the new yam festival on August 25 to coincide with the first anniversary of his coronation, but this did not go down well with some of the indigenes who believed there was a particular date for the celebration, which cannot be changed.

Trouble started when those against the wishes of the monarch decided to hold their New Yam festival on Friday, the usual date they claimed was the actual date the tradition of the town stipulated.

LEADERSHIP Sunday further gathered that there had been palpable tension in the community when both the monarch and families fixed different dates for the New Yam festival in the community.

A source told our correspondent that indigenes of the community had set out early in the morning for the celebration before a detachment of policemen and military personnel arrived and dispersed them.

The source alleged that security personnel were in the community to ensure that the festival was not held.

The source said, “This is to inform you that there has been a serious crisis in Ibule Soro since yesterday (Friday ) around 12:16pm till now (Saturday). This is beyond control as the police invaded us shooting sporadically, terrorising the entire community; teargased every nook and cranny, and this is seriously affecting the aged people, even the young. Many were in the hospital just because of this act.

“The security people came, shooting sporadically and firing teargas at everyone in sight. They even fired tear gas into various houses where we have aged people. They broke into several houses and arrested people.

“As I speak, many indigenes are receiving treatment in various hospitals while police have arrested many youths too. We do not know that celebrating the new yam festival has become a crime. We were celebrating without any problem until the security people came.”

He further added that several indigenes of the town have been arrested and taken to the police station at Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore local government.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya said the situation in the community has been brought under control.

She denied the allegation that the police came to the community to take sides in the dispute, saying their duty was to maintain law and order in the community.

The PPRO said, “Ibule people had an internal crisis that had been on for a while, the command had earlier invited the warring parties to sheath their swords and embrace peace, while the aggrieved were advised to seek legal redress.

“Unfortunately, the crisis degenerated yesterday so the Police had to come in to avoid a total breakdown of law and order.”