BY BUKOLA BARDI
Akure community on Friday celebrating the annual aheregbe festival with the popular Erekesan, cash-hold and Adedeji markets shut.
Aheregbe, also known as DUDUDU is a traditional festival, commemorated mainly by the Paramount Ruler, The Deji and his chiefs, during which prayers are offered for the peace and progress of the ancient town.
Shops and Markets are shut during the celebration while young men popularly called “palace Servants” and other well wishers will dance round the town
To mark this year’s aheregbe festival, the Deji of Akure, oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo had ordered the closure of all markets in the ancient town but this was swiftly countered by the state government, insisting that the directive did not get its approval, hence all markets must open for business.
shops along Arakale road shut
This, no doubt threw traders in markets across the capital city into a dilemma.
A visit to erekesan, Cash- hold and Adedeji markets in Akure showed total compliance with the Deji’s order as the three markets were totally deserted by residents while there was a partial opening at the NEPA neighbourhood market.
It was however, a beehive of activities at Isinkan and isolo markets as buying and selling were going on in full swing.
Some security personnel, especially the Amotekun Corps, were seen patrolling the city to prevent looting spree and any form of hooliganism as witnessed during past aheregbe festivals.
Meanwhile, some traders have called for a synergy between the Deji’s palace and the ondo state government on the issue of market closure for the annual festival.
The traders including, Mr David Bonte and Miss Funke Akintola suggested that both parties should always reach a compromise before date and procedure are announced for the aheregbe festival to avoid any confusion.
Generally, economic activities are at a low ebb in the town as a result of the traditional event.