The Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Onah, weekend, said masquerading in public places within Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) has been banned for serving as a cover for criminal acts.
Mr. Onah was reacting to a passionate plea by Reverend Father Peter Agbo of St Mulumba parish, Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki who raised alarm over increasing cases of criminal acts and assaults being pepertrated under the cover of masqurading during the one year anniversary of the 7th Assembly in Abakaliki.
Rev. Fr. Agbo had at the event called for total ban on masqurading noting that though it was a source of entertainment it should not be allowed in public places, moreso when it becomes fetish.
The Assembly deputy speaker who is also representing Ohaukwu South State Constituency said the Ngbo Council of Elders had made a law banning indiscriminate masquerading in public places especially in the market and areas where public activities take place.
Mr. Onah in an interview noted that what happened in Ohaukwu in the name of masquerading was never the culture of the people, lamenting that the masquerade beat up his 70-year old mother, a Methodist Church priest, Israel Oyibe and that of Catholic Church, Reverend Fr. Christian Oku among others.
He said, “This issue of deviating from the original culture and tradition of the people to criminality is not peculiar to my Constituency. But just that we have decided to take a bold step from my area because of the record of what they have done recently.
“Masquerading to an extent is for an entertainment. Like I said when I was moving the motion in the House, to ban masquerading at public places like market, I said, a masquerade that is friendly will not use force to get money from the peoole . But when you harass them, it’s difficult for anybody to come around you.
“And naturally, traditionally, women have nothing to do with masquerade in our place. So, if masquerade decides to go where women are selling a small produce from the farm, what do you expect? It simply means that you want crisis.
“What really informed the idea of moving the motion was as a result of the general meeting conveyed by the leaders of Ngbo Elders Council after a masquerade and some supporters beat up a Methodist priest, called Reverend Israel Oyibe from Ekwashi. He was also stabbed and his clothe torn to shreds. His motorcycle was also damaged. Currently, the man is at Abakaliki looking for help, a Reverend Minister.
“As if that one was not enough, a Catholic priest Reverend Fr. Christian Oku, from Afikpo serving in Ngbo, was flogged by the masquerade and also flogged a cook that he was coming with to the station where he is posted. When you go to the market, you will see a lot of incidences, where women are complaining of being beating by the masquerade, when they come to the market, you can’t sell because the masquerade won’t allow you sell.
“In my presence, a man was coming from Okposhi Eheku road, that leads to Okwor Ngbo, I was coming from my village, and met the man and I saw a masquerade. When I asked the man what was the problem? He said that the masquerade demanded for money and he offered 200 naira.
“The masquerade said that considering the situation of things in the present regime N200 was nothing, that the lest he would pay was N1,000. When the man pleaded that since he doesn’t have N1,000 the masquerade should let him go back and ply another road, the masquerade refused and said he should choose between the two canes it was holding and started beating the man.
“I rescued the man and treated the man before I allowed him to go. A situation where these things are happening, I can’t keep quiet.
“I’m not only representing few people but the masses who could not have access to the social media to complain, and some women who are not able to see us. Telling the press that my mother was also beaten, is an insult to me because I should know what to do.
“That was why when the Ngbo leaders council came up and took that decision, I have to sponsor it in the House and get approval to ban this masquerading at the public places like markets”.
However, blueprint later gathered that about four masquerades were arrested for flouting the law.
