BREAKING: Lagos monarch speaks on Oro festival ‘affecting’ Saturday’s election

The Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Saheed Ademola, on Wednesday said the March 2023 Orò festival would not affect Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

TrackNews reports that some media reports had claimed that the monarch fixed the traditional rite on Election Day. But making a clarification through his media aide, Temitope Oyefeso, Elegushi said the restriction of movement for the Orò rites in Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom in Eti-Osa is from Wednesday to Friday.

“Election Day (Saturday) is not included. The restriction is from 12 midnight to 5 am on each day, while residents are free to move before and after this time.

“This clarification is necessary for those peddling falsehood as to the motive for the rites.

“The peace and progress of our land is the responsibility of all of us and we must be alive to this responsibility,” he said in a statement.

This newspaper reports that the Orò Festival is an event celebrated by towns and settlements of Yoruba origin.

It is an annual traditional festival that is of patriarchal nature, as it is only celebrated by male descendants who are paternal natives to the specific locations where the particular event is taking place.