The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and residents of the community on Sunday bickered over alleged imposition of Olojo Festival levy on them.
The residents under the union, Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN) in a statement on Sunday jointly signed by its Coordinator and Secretary of APTAN, Ile-Ife Branch, Comrade Saidi Adegoke and Comrade Monsur Jimoh, alleged that their members are being harassed by representatives of the Palace of Ooni of Ife over their refusal to pay the traditional Olojo Festival levy.
They called on the federal and the state governments as well as the Nigerian Police to intervene.
They stated, “The incident occurred at the Ojatuntun Otisese Weekly Market on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, witnessed some men who claimed to represent the Palace of the Ooni of Ife stormed the market and forcefully seized goods belonging to APTAN members.”
The union identified some of the palace representatives adding that they took the goods away when their member declined to make payment for the Olojo Festival levy.
He said, “For over five years, our members have been subjected to harassments, intimidation, and seizure of goods under the guise of compulsory levies for traditional festivals. Goods taken in previous years have never been returned, and this yearly oppression continues despite our repeated appeals.
“Our members are largely Muslims. We have consistently paid all other legitimate fees and levies required of us. However, making contributions to activities rooted in idolatry and traditional religious practices (Isese) is forbidden by our faith.
“Therefore, compelling Muslims to fund traditional religious practices is a direct violation of our freedom of conscience and our religious rights.”
Subsequently, they called for the intervention of the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, the Sultan of Sokoto however asserted that APTAN and its members hold His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi in the highest esteem.
“We believe strongly that the Ooni was not aware of these nefarious acts, which they suspect were being carried out under the influence of certain High Chiefs and the Babaloja, without the knowledge of the Palace.”
Reacting to the allegations, Ooni through his media aide, Moses Olafare denied the claims, saying Oba Ogunwusi has provided the necessary fund for the festival.
He said, “The palace could not have and did not send anybody to commit crime in the name of Olojo festival, stressing that such persons ought to have been arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
“No palace can force people to pay lecy for festival talk less the Ooni’s palace. The Ooni has made available needed fund for the festival and volunteers have also made donations towards the successful celebration of the annual event. Whoever go around in the next of the palace should be treated as a criminal and be made to face the wrath of the law.
“It is also unfortunate that the traders have not informed the palace of the extortion they face annually as they claimed. Since they can identify the people involved they should report to the police and let them face the consequences of their actions”, he added.
