Ekiti state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has ordered all traditional rulers in the state to either cancel or postpone all pending local festivals within their domain for the remaining months of the year.
This is in bid to curb the further spread of COVID-19, and to also ensure strictly the observation of safety protocols.
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This was announced by the state Coordinator of COVID-19 Task Force Response Team, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, through a released statement.
The statement reads in part;
“Consequently, the wise course is to seriously discourage these festivals at this time.
“In fact, they are effectively banned by current government guidelines requiring social distancing and limited-number assemblies.
“Therefore, we are appealing to all Obas, Council Chairmen, Councillors and community leaders for the cancellation of the public celebration of all upcoming festivals and cessation of ongoing ones in all part of Ekiti until further notice.” (Culled from PUNCH)
Prominent among the traditional festivals to be affected by the ban includes; Annual Egungun (Masquerade festival), Ogun (God of Iron) festival, and celebration of Annual Cultural Days, by the various towns within the state.
Meanwhile, Ekiti has recorded over 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 47 discharged and 2 deaths.