- Fuming with rage, the nation’s youth are gearing up for a sweeping protest against the relentless hardship, crushing poverty, and skyrocketing cost of living, along with other dire economic woes.
- In the midst of this brewing storm, a sinister rumor has ignited a firestorm: whispers that the Lagos state government plans to unleash the perilous Orò festival during the protest.
- This chilling speculation has sent shockwaves through the public, triggering an outpouring of fury from Sowore and countless other outraged Nigerians.
The Orò festival lit up X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, July 24, after a pro-Lagos state social media page boldly announced that the ominous observance would coincide with the scheduled nationwide protest dates.
According to reports, a coalition of Nigerians, under various banners, is mobilizing for a sweeping nationwide protest from August 1 to 10, driven by the unbearable rise in the cost of living and the suffocating economic hardship gripping the country. The tension is palpable, as the nation braces for a showdown.
Adding fuel to the fire, on the evening of Wednesday, July 24, a blog named Lagospedia issued a “public announcement,”
The unsubstantiated claim posted on X reads:
“Attention residents and visitors of Lagos.
“Please be informed that the Oro festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from the 1st of August to August 15. “This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”
SEE TWEET BELOW
Public Announcement:
Attention Residents and Visitors of Lagos
Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from 1st of August to August 15.
This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals
Retweet for…
— Lagospedia (@lagospedia) July 24, 2024
Despite the viral frenzy, neither the Lagos government nor any traditional rulers have stepped forward to confirm or deny the eerie rumor of the Oro festival.
In a fiery backlash to the post, Nigerian political activist Omoyele Sowore, along with a legion of outraged Nigerians, has slammed the suggestion of the Orò festival as nothing more than a tasteless joke and a feeble ploy to sabotage the much-anticipated #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria protest. Tweeps are ablaze with indignation, accusing the authorities of a cynical pattern—suddenly scheduling the Oro festival during critical moments.
SEE REACTIONS BELOW
The “Oro Festival” is about witnessing a REVOLUTIONARY transformation; it is about seeing a real Festival – the Festival of the Oppressed! #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #DaysOfRage #RevolutionNow https://t.co/vTUjCbZGsK pic.twitter.com/upCo45qxqj
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 24, 2024
You guys are easily predictable.
Your Oro festival is now a political tool.
I'm happy you guys are the ones bringing it to ridicule. We'll help you ridicule it the more, don't worry.
Bunch of reprobates. https://t.co/gImwzgPCmQ
— Dr. Effiong John (@DrEffiong_John) July 24, 2024
Oro festival in Lagos now allegedly scheduled for the first two weeks of August. The exact same period of the planned protests by the youths.
Chaiii 😭
So after turning billionaires to podcasters 😂 this govt don dey turn our ancestors to political jobbers 😂 😂 😂
God abeg.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) July 24, 2024
The Orò festival is an event celebrated by various towns and settlements of Yoruba origin. It is an annual traditional festival that is patriarchal, as it is only celebrated by male descendants who are paternal natives of the specific locations where the particular event is taking place.
Already in Lagos, it has been observed on May 16, 2024.
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