By Bose Adelaja

Until recently, Igbogbo community in Ikorodu, was a particularly busy place being a popular destination for commerce and other human activities. But the situation has changed as residents  are presently living in fear. In fact, the fear is palpable, whether at the motor parks, bus-stops, homes, shops, entertainment joints, drinking bars and markets.

Particularly panic-stricken are the non-indigenes of the land. Their feeling in this regard became evident when news circulated that  the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo land, Oba Festus Fatola had joined his ancestors on Monday June 29, 2015 at the  age of 83. The Oba was said to have ascended the throne of his fathers about 36 years ago on his return from overseas.

But news of the monarch’s transition has created disquiet in Igbogbo, a town that was always brimming with activities all day be reason of serving as a transit to many communities like Oreta, Awobo, Ofin, Lajo, Igbomogun, Bayeku, Agunfoye and Morekete, to mention but a few. But now residents, commuters, traders and residents are afraid to step out of their homes.

The late Oba Fatola was said to have been faced with many challenges both physical, mentally and otherwise. In fact, some people are wont to believe that his search for solution to these challenges possibly prompted him to worship at the Celestial Church of Christ, CCC. He remained a member of the church until he passed on  that fateful Monday.

Since his demise, the entire community has been thrown into fear as traditional activities have been ongoing both day and night as stipulated by the tradition. Part of it was closure of markets, shops, business centres, offices and companies. Also, merriment, music, especially drumming, are prohibited publicly for the time being.

Religious centres have also been asked to put night activities and music boxes on hold for some time. This is said to be the first phase of the traditional rites. Another three months of segmented traditional programmes will soon follow to complete the traditional funeral rites of the monarch.

For the first week activities, the traditional town crier went round the communities to announce the passing away of the monarch while informing of the traditional rites to follow. He was said to have concluded his message by outlining the attendant curse or consequences on defaulters of the said directives from the palace.

Most residents regard these as undue inconveniences, especially as they can neither use the markets close to them nor buy their needs from neighbouring shops as all are under lock and key. However, the development has not stopped some desperate persons from going to neighbouring communities like Ikorodu central to procure their needs, though this attracts a minimum transportation cost of N200.

So tense and punitive has  the situation become that some house wives and artisans have resorted to corporate begging to feed their families.

Igbogbo which is noted for social activities and celebrations, has for now been shut down till the next three months. This has created a sharp division between those who support the idea those opposed to it,  especially non indigenes who see it as punitive and a restriction to their fundamental human rights.

A resident, Mrs Iretiola Awodele who put to bed recently, said she was pained that she could not entertain her guests with music on the christening of the baby.

Some traders who spoke on the development lamented the adverse effect it has on their businesses. For example, a food vendour, Mrs Serifat Adamo, said she had already prepared soup for sale the next day when the monarch’s death announced in the evening.

‘’I invested all my daily sales in readiness for the next day but the announcement almost gave me hypertension as I lost about N30,000 in the process. My system of operation is payment after sales but this development has affected me adversely,” she lamented.

As if this was not enough, some chiefs in the land were said to be going round the town seizing and destroying wares belonging to erring residents, particularly anyone that opens his or her shop. As at the time of filing this report, many residents were at their tethers end and are desperately calling on government to come to their rescue.

Igbogbo has produced prominent sons and daughters such as one-time Minister for Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe; immediate past Lagos State Head of Service, Prince Segun Ogunlewe; one-time Deputy Director with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, among others.

Some school of thoughts believe that Igbogbo would attract more development if  majority of the indigenes give up their fetish ways and unfriendly attitude. Igbogbo is the headquarters of a council development area under Ikorodu local government.

Effort to reach the Odofin of Igbogbo for his comment on the prevailing situation proved abortive as he was said to be engaged when Vanguard Metro visited the palace.