Tinubu’s Lagos Traditional Stooges Plot Oro Festival for August 1 to Counter Protest
End bad government in Nigeria 2024 protest.
In a move perceived by many as an attempt to counter the #EndBadGovt protest, traditional worshippers in Lagos State have announced plans to observe the Oro Festival from August 1st to August 15th. The timing of this cultural event, which involves significant rituals, has raised suspicions, especially given its coincidence with the scheduled protest dates.
This development was revealed in a notice to residents and visitors, which went viral on social media on Wednesday. The notice informed the public about the upcoming festival and its rituals, stirring concerns about potential disruptions to the planned protests.
While the state government has denied any involvement in the timing of the Oro Festival, the overlap has fueled speculations. Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, addressed the issue in an interview with Peoples Gazette. Akosile emphasized that both the protesters and the traditional worshippers have the right to exercise their respective activities, urging mutual respect to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“I saw it just like every other person did. Did you see any signatory to this statement? The answer is no! If it’s not endorsed, then it’s a nullity,” Akosile remarked. He stressed that the rights of traditional religious worshippers to carry out their rituals are valid, regardless of the protest dates. “You want to protest, I want to do my worship, it’s my right. It is now right versus right. As long as your own right does not disturb my own right, there won’t be crisis, let everybody be doing their thing,” he added.
Akosile also noted that security agencies would be on standby to ensure the protests do not turn violent and lead to a breakdown of law and order.
This isn’t the first time the Oro Festival’s timing has been contentious. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the festival was declared, with residents noticing pots of rituals placed at several junctions and in front of some houses across the state. Just three days before the March 18, 2023, governorship election, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola, declared a three-day “Oro rites,” which many believed was intended to discourage voters opposed to the ruling party from participating freely in the election.
As the August 1st protest date nears, the situation in Lagos remains tense. Both protesters and traditional worshippers are being urged to coexist peacefully and respect each other’s rights to avoid conflict and ensure a safe environment for all.
