BREAKING: Oro festival won’t affect gov polls, Elegushi clarifies

The traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom in Lagos State, Saheed Ademola, on Wednesday said the March 2023 Oro festival would not affect the governorship elections slated to be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

The monarch made the clarifications in a text message sent to The PUNCH in Abuja.

Certain media organisations (not The PUNCH) reported that the monarch fixed the traditional rite on Election Day.

However, speaking with our correspondent through his media aide, Temitope Oyefeso, the monarch said, “The restriction of movement for the Oro rites in the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Eti-Osa is from Wednesday to Friday, Election Day 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.”

The PUNCH reports that 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 of the specific locations where the particular event is taking place.

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