- The government emphasized on that the state government does not interfere with religious activities
The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially denied any involvement with the upcoming Oro festival, scheduled to take place from August 1 to 15.
This period coincides with the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Sanwo-Olu, emphasized on Thursday that the state government does not interfere with religious activities, including the Oro festival.
In a statement, Akosile compared the festival to other religious events held across Nigeria, underscoring that the government respects the constitutional rights of traditional worshippers to conduct their lawful practices.
“Oro festival, like Muslim and Christian activities, is not subject to Lagos State government interference. We have no involvement in how any religious group conducts their lawful activities,” Akosile said. “The protesters have their rights, just like the traditional worshippers who wish to perform their activities. What is our concern in that?”
Opposition’s Response
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu’s government. He accused them of attempting to use the Oro festival to thwart the planned protest in Lagos.
Rhodes-Vivour described the alleged use of the ancient Oro festival to threaten #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters as an insult to the Yoruba traditional institution. “The campaign by APC propaganda handles to use ORO – a sacred ritual in Yoruba land – to threaten protesters is an assault on our traditional institution,” he stated on his X account. “Casualising centuries of a hallowed ritual with such juvenile intent debases our culture and corrupts our revered institution.”