By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Community leader Omoba Rasheed Awofeso has urged residents, traditional rulers and event organisers in Oworonshoki, Lagos State, to prioritise peace, unity and coordination as two major traditional celebrations are scheduled to take place during the same period in November.
Awofeso made the appeal on Tuesday in an interview with KosofePost while reacting to the scheduled overlap between the coronation ceremony of Oko Baba Agba Kingdom and the annual Egungun Festival of Oworonshoki Kingdom.
He said the celebrations present an opportunity to promote Yoruba cultural heritage, attract visitors and stimulate economic activities, but stressed that careful planning would be necessary to avoid preventable tensions.
Cultural Celebrations Present Economic Opportunities
According to Awofeso, the simultaneous events could contribute to cultural preservation, local tourism, economic growth and community development.
“The overlapping celebrations provide a great platform for cultural preservation, economic growth, local tourism, and overall community development,” he said.
However, he cautioned that hosting major gatherings at the same time could create challenges involving security, crowd management and traffic congestion across key routes in Oworonshoki.
He also warned that unresolved traditional rivalries or social tensions among local groups could complicate the celebrations if stakeholders failed to address potential concerns early.
Awofeso Calls for Dialogue and Coordination
To promote a peaceful festive period, Awofeso called on traditional rulers, community leaders and festival organisers to begin dialogue and coordinate their programmes ahead of the events.
“Traditional rulers, community leaders, and festival organisers must engage in proactive dialogue and coordinate their activities effectively,” he said.
He emphasised that both celebrations should provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships among residents and showcase the community’s cultural heritage.
Awofeso urged stakeholders to place the collective interests of Oworonshoki above individual or group differences, noting that peaceful cooperation would help residents and visitors participate in the festivities safely.
The coronation programme and Egungun Festival are scheduled to feature major activities on November 12, 13 and 14, with the grand coronation and the Adinimodo masquerade outing both listed for November 14.
As preparations continue, Awofeso’s appeal adds to calls for communication and coordination between the organisers to ensure that the celebrations promote cultural pride without creating avoidable divisions in the community.