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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Araba Oluawo of Ibadan land (Ibadan Chief Priest), Chief Odegbola Ifalere, alongside other Babalawos, on Tuesday, resorted to rituals as widespread condemnation continues to trail the invasion of Oyo State Government secretariat by some Yoruba nation agitators last weekend.
A video trending on social media showed Odegbola chanting incantations and cursing those behind the invasion of the Oyo State Government secretariat.
Some Ifa priests were also seen consulting the oracle as they tied both he and she-goats to the stake, ostensibly as ritual offerings to stop the destabilisation of Governor Seyi Makinde’s government and general well-being of the indigenes and residents of Ibadan land and Oyo State in general.
Recall that Yoruba nation agitators stormed Oyo State Government secretariat on Saturday morning and attempted to hoist the flag of Oodua nation.
It took the combined efforts of security agencies in the state to dislodge them. Some members of the group were reportedly killed while 21 others were arrested and paraded by the Oyo State Police Command, on Monday
The state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde; the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes (CCII), senior chiefs, Ibadan elders amongst others have condemned the invasion.
In the trending video, the priests were raining curses on the agitators, describing them as enemies of the city of Ibadan and the government of Makinde.
“Evil shall befall those behind the invasion and any further attempt to disturb the peace of Ibadan and Oyo State would spell doom for the agitators.
“Any indigenes, citizens or residents alike who join the agitators would meet his or her waterloo and be disgraced forever. This is not Igbo land where IPOB reigned supreme and caused economic crisis with its attendant loss of lives and means of livelihood of many Igbo people.
“They (agitators) must think twice and any form of disturbances against the Seyi Makinde-led government would not augur well for them. It must not happen again.
“We don’t want Yoruba nation and our people are solidly behind the governor and Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” they said.
Watch video below: