Ondo monarch orders shutdown of commercial activities in Akure for festival

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has issued a directive to shut down all commercial activities in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, in order to commemorate the annual Aheregbe festival.

The closure, according to the monarch, which will take effect on Friday, August 25, encompasses marketplaces and shops in Akure and its surrounding settlements.

In a statement issued through Michael Adeyeye, his Chief Press Secretary, the traditional ruler highlighted the significance of the festival and its impact on the community.

The closure of commercial activities during the festival is a long-standing custom that holds great importance in Akure’s tradition, the monarch stressed.

According to the statement: “It is important to emphasise that there shall be no trading or opening of shops under any guise during the festival. Residents, market women, and shop owners are kindly enjoined to comply with this directive. However, only pharmacy shops and patent medicine stores are exempted from the closure of their shops during the festival. Moreover, the festival will not in any way restrict both human and vehicular movement.”