The family of a popular Ibadan masquerade, Atipako has issued a disclaimer that their masquerade was not at the residence of High Chief Lekan Balogun who was, together with others, recently elevated to an Obaship status as reported in newspapers.
Against the directives of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, that no masquerade must visit the compound of the controversial monarchs, some masquerades were said to have resisted the order.
The monarch has however challenged the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun and other kings to produce photographs from the performance of a prominent masquerade, Atipako, and others who performed in their compounds.
Vanguard quoted the monarch as expressing satisfaction with compliance to his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compounds of new kings installed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State
The monarch, in a statement by his Director of Media, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said he had no regret issuing the royal directive.
The Olubadan stated that the festival was purportedly staged somewhere in Alli Iwo and advised the listeners to beware of falsehood.
He stated that when the masquerades came to pay homage in his palace last Monday, there were photographs that could be verified in the papers and names of the masqueraders who were there.
“Where are their photographs? What are the names of the masqueraders?”, he asked.
Even though, the reports stated clearly that the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun said a prominent masquerade, Atipako was allegedly prevented from coming to his compound, the monarch’s spokesperson said: “Even Atipako, the leading masquerade who was reported to have honoured High Chief Lekan Balogun was not there as the Atipako family of Kobomoje, Ibadan had issued a disclaimer.”
