No Oro festival in Lagos on Saturday, electoral process not threatened – Police

0
165
Spread the love

The Nigeria Police Force have assured voters in Lagos State that there won’t be Oro festivities in the state on Saturday (today), maintaining that there is no threat to the governorship and state assembly elections.

Reports on social media claimed that the Oro festival in some parts of the state will take place on Saturday – on the same day as the elections. The development triggered reactions from Nigerians most of whom lamented the situation.

But speaking on Channels Television’s election show, The 2023 Verdict on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said it is only one part of the state that conducted Oro which he confirmed ended on Friday.

He said, “When the news went viral that there will be Oro between Wednesday and Thursday, the major city that is concerned is Ikate land where we have Kabiyesi Oba Elegushi and I personally put a call to Kayesi to find out what is the situation.

“I am a Yoruba man, and I know what it is when they say they will have Oro cult or Oro festival. I know definitely many people will not be allowed to move particularly women and he clarified and said the Oro festival will end on Friday. So, this means it’s not a threat to the electoral process in any way.

“I think if the Oro is over today (Friday), that settles it. So, according to the information I have from Lagos State, the Oro ends on Friday and the election is Saturday. So, I don’t think it is a threat to the electoral process in any way.”

Adejobi said he is not aware that there are other communities in the state planning on doing the Oro festival on election day and as such, there is nothing to worry about.

He, however, said that if some people insist on going on with such activity on election day, the police will also deal with the situation.

Oro Festival is an event celebrated by towns and settlements of Yoruba origin. It is an annual traditional ceremony that is patriarchal in nature, as it is only celebrated by male descendants who are paternal natives of the specific locations where the event is taking place.

During the festival, females and non-natives stay indoors as oral history has it that Oro must not be seen by women and non-participating people.

Leave a reply