The 23-day curfew announced by Rotimi Osuntola, the Chief of Staff to the newly appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade is currently generating tension in the ancient town.
The Chief of Staff had announced the commencement of Oro Ipebi as part of the activities before the formal ascension of the traditional ruler.
Reports say Osuntola, in the statement maintained that the Oro Ipebi which the traditional ruler has commenced on Friday (7th March) is one of the mandatory rites for the king before his ascension to the revered throne of the Alaafin of Oyo.
However, some Islamic scholars, a legal practitioner and a lecturer have kicked against the curfew.
They spoke at the weekend.
Adding to the development is the fact that the imposition of the curfew is coming just six days after the commencement of Ramadan fast on Saturday, 1st March 2025.
According to Daily Post, some people declared that the imposition was another way to deprive the Muslims of the right to observe the necessary religious rites in the month.
A former Amir (National President) Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Professor Taofiq Yekini in an interview described the curfew imposition as insensitive and an invitation to a crisis.
“It is insensitive. The issue of the rites to the throne was delayed to the period of Ramadan when we knew that the period of Ramadan, morning and night are usually characterised by activities.
“Then you are now imposing a curfew at the period when you know that the Muslims will be busy morning and night throughout this period. That is insensitivity.
“It is insensitivity on the part of the people that declared it and also the government for allowing such to stay.
“So, if the Muslims now react, they will be blaming the Muslims. We want the general public to know that this is an invitation to crisis. That is what they are calling for,” he said.
Also reacting, a lecturer in the department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Dr Mikail Abdulsalam noted that the imposition of curfew may lead to religious conflicts if not properly addressed.
Abdulsalam said: “I will approach this question from two sides; one from the angle of human rights and the angle of religion.
“The imposition of curfew is a violation of human rights. Declaring a curfew in the name of the appointment of a new king or traditional rites for the new king is a violation of human rights.
“It is quite unfortunate that no single human rights advocate has ever condemned this.
“If it is the Muslims that did this, some people will say it is anti-people. Why will they tell people not to move between 8pm and 5am when some people may need urgent medical attention?
“That is a prime time for some people to do their businesses. So, declaring curfew in the name of traditional rites is a violation of human rights.
“We are civilized beyond all these things and it is barbaric. It is unconstitutional. You cannot say because someone wants to become king, people should not go out, who is he going to rule?
“Painfully, no one is condemning it, the security agencies, the state and local governments are not saying anything about it. Why is it that a single entity is declaring curfew when we have the government.
“Muslims need to go out and observe Solat Ishai and that will be affected, and if this is not taken seriously, it can lead to religious conflicts.
“I am at liberty to go out at that time to pray under the Nigerian constitution, so, I have never for once infringed on other people’s rights and you are telling me not to go. So, it is an infringement on my right; it may lead to religious conflicts, go and write it down.
“If it does not happen today, it will happen somewhere in Yoruba land if they continue like this. It is like gunpowder, it is going to blow one day. If people say that they want to go out and pray and you see some people saying they should arrest them, then it can lead to conflicts.”
in his own contribution, an Islamic scholar and Director, Academy of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ibadan, Dr Sulaiman Adewale Alagunfon, described the imposition as a test from God.
He urged Muslims in the town to remain steadfast and committed to their acts of worship during this holy month of Ramadan.
He maintained that the imposition of a curfew should be viewed as a test from Allah, who wants to see how dedicated Muslims can be in challenging circumstances.
“This situation serves as a test of our Islamic faith and reveals where the new king truly stands.
“For a purported ‘Muslim’ king to declare and enforce such anti-Islamic measures, citing ‘traditional rites’ during this sacred month, clearly highlights his true allegiance.
“As we have observed throughout his nomination, it has become evident that he does not genuinely adhere to Islam, even though he retains his Muslim name as a façade.
“This singular act demonstrates his opposition to Islam and the Muslim community. If he were truly observing the fast and fulfilling his Islamic obligations as a Muslim, he would understand the profound disrespect it shows to the feelings of Muslims to restrict movement during a month when the ‘nights’ hold great significance for our faith.
“He would recognize that night prayers, such as Tarawih, Tahajjud, and Laylat al-Qadr, as well as Sahur, are essential practices that require Muslims to move from one place to another during the nights of Ramadan for various reasons.
“I urge the Muslims in Oyo Town to remain steadfast and committed to their acts of worship during this holy month of Ramadan. The imposition of a curfew should be viewed as a test from Allah, who wants to see how dedicated Muslims can be in challenging circumstances,” he stated.
In his reaction, an Ibadan-based lawyer, Barrister Abiodun Amole, when contacted, described the imposition of the curfew as unconstitutional and unjustifiable.
Amole said that declaration of curfew under the guise of performing ‘Ipebi’ rites is a gross violation of the spirit and letter of section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of movement “throughout Nigeria.“
He described the curfew as extra-constitutional, unilateral, inconsiderate and unjustifiable.
Amole said, “Without mincing words, the declaration of a 23-day curfew in the ancient town of Oyo under the guise of performing ‘Ipebi’ rites is a gross violation of the spirit and letter of Section of Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of movement.
“The so-called curfew is extra-constitutional, unilateral, inconsiderate and unjustifiable to say the least.
“Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) expressly provides thus: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom’.
“Furthermore, the purported curfew is also contrary to Article 13(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on 10th December, 1948 and Article 12 (1) of the African Charter On Human and Peoples’ Rights. Article 13(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states thus: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state’.
“In a similar vein, Article Article 12(1) of the African Charter On Human and Peoples’ Rights provides that: ‘Every individual shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of a State provided he abides by the law’.
“Having regard to the above clear provisions of the grundnorm and the two treaties to which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory, the scenario currently playing out in Oyo town amounts to sheer illegality.
“Any traditional rites that infringe on citizens’ rights in any way or manner whatsoever cannot stand in a democratic society where the rule of law is sacrosanct.
“I recall that a similar situation once occurred in Ikorodu, Lagos State when oro worshippers unilaterally restricted movement under the guise of performing rituals and the then Hon. Attorney General of the state promptly rose to the occasion and condemned the illegality and urged residents of the state to disregard the restriction of movement and go about their lawful activities.
“One expects the Hon. Attorney General of Oyo State, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo to have done the same thing here in his capacity as the Chief Law Officer of the state.
“When I saw the so-called press release announcing the restriction of movement, my mind just went straight to my medical doctor friend that lives in Oyo who usually goes to work whenever he’s on night duty after observing the Ishai prayer at 8pm.
“Are we saying that he can’t go to work after observing his prayer on account of the so-called curfew?
“This is certainly a joke taken too far. One may also ask, what happens in case of a medical emergency when someone is being rushed to the hospital for treatment or when a pregnant woman suddenly goes into labour and is being taken to the hospital for delivery?
“Also what happens in case of a sudden fire outbreak when firefighters have to rush to the scene to put out the fire?
“The development is indeed very wrong. As an addendum, what the development simply means is that night life will be abruptly put on hold for a complete 23 days in Oyo town with all the attendant socio-economic dire consequences.”
Talking along the same line, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Lead City University, Ibadan, Dr Bayonle Busari, called for the review of the curfew.
Busari maintained that the curfew, if not reviewed, may lead to rebellion and the breakdown of law and order.
He said, “There is the need to handle the coronation rites with caution so as not to make living difficult for the subjects who Kabiyesi will rule over.
“There may be an obvious clash between tradition and the right to free movement and religion, which the constitution guarantees as inalienable.
“The period coincides with the fasting month of both Muslims and Christians who form the larger percentage of the indigenes and residents of the ancient town.
“Not only this, Oyo town is a corridor for those who commute between the north and south of the country, and the restriction will obviously curtail their movement.
“I think, in view of the prevailing time, the restriction could be reviewed in a way that will not lead to a probable rebellion and breakdown of law and order.”
