Farooq Oreagba has defended the continued celebration of Ojude Oba 2026 amid growing security concerns, describing the festival as a cultural institution that cannot be paused.
Speaking to Nollywire at the private screening of ‘Iwe Ala: An Ojude Oba Story’ with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Oreagba described the annual gathering as something bigger than the prevailing circumstance.
“To say that life must stop is giving victory to those that perpetrate such things,” he said. “We have to try and live a normal life to show that they’re not winning.”
Oreagba, who earned the nickname “King of Steeze” after becoming an internet sensation during the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, has since transitioned from finance into the public eye, fronting major commercial campaigns and now appearing in Adeoluwa Owu’s ‘Iwe Ala: An Ojude Oba Story’, which opens in cinemas on June 12, 2026.
His comments come against the backdrop of conversations around safety and the absence of the Awujale of Ijebuland at this year’s festival. For Oreagba, however, the focus remains on continuity.
“We are recognising the institution, not the individual,” he said. “The Awujale is an institution. It’s beyond one person.”
Ojude Oba, one of the most prominent cultural gatherings, brings families together annually in elaborate displays of heritage and identity. Oreagba described it as a deeply personal tradition that reunites relatives who may only see one another once a year.
“This year, in my family, we had 24 riders,” he said. “Some of them I’ve not seen since the last Ojude Oba and probably won’t see till the next one.”
Beyond its public spectacle, he noted that the festival’s preparation begins months in advance, reflecting its scale and significance.
“From next week, we are already planning for next year—nine, ten months ahead,” he said. “The materials, the tailors – people don’t realise what goes on behind the scenes.”
Oreagba also pointed to the role of storytelling in preserving that context, highlighting Iwe Ala for moving beyond documentary-style portrayals of the festival.
“This has a story,” he said. “It captures the essence and the things people don’t see.”
As debates around security continue, his position remains clear: cultural continuity, rather than suspension, is the stronger response.
“If you stop, they’ve won,” he said.
