THE Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has described as sacrilegious the fetish items placed around and within the premises of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by unknown persons.
The monarch flayed the attitude of some miscreants, who, he said, went and sealed the entrance of the party secretariat with the traditional palm frond.
According to him, traditional palm frond is the traditional means of sealing off premises in Akureland.
A statement by the Deji’s spokesman, Michael Adeyeye, said: “We want to state that carrying out traditional sealing-off of premises remains the prerogative of the palace.
“The Deji of Akure remains non-partisan and a father to all political aspirants and never authorised such.
“Oba Ogunlade frowns at this attitude and wishes to inform the general public that such act did not emanate from the palace.
“We wish to inform you that any attempt to desecrate tradition will be vehemently rebuffed.
“It is certain that those who carried out this condemnable act are not aware of the cultural and traditional implications of this action. The palace is a-political and therefore should not be dragged into the internal wrangling of any party.”
It noted that the palace has sent its emissaries to carry out a thorough investigation of the matter, saying: “We are confident that the culprits will be apprehended in no distant time.
“We call on the APC party executives to unravel the circumstances behind this abominable act. We equally call on security agencies to investigate and bring to book those behind the sacrilegious act so as to serve as deterrent to would-be persons.
“We want to state without mincing words that the palace has nothing to do with the issue and equally condemns it in its entirety”.