Elegushi Clarifies Oro Festival Won’t Affect Saturday Election

Following the report of the Oro festival in Ikate-Elegushi kingdom in Lagos State, the traditional ruler of Ikate-Elegushi, Saheed Ademola has on Wednesday clarified that 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 as some certain media organisations reported that the monarch fixed the traditional rite on Election Day.

Through his media aide, Temitope Oyefeso, the monarch said, “The restriction of movement for the Oro rites in 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 Orò Festival is a traditional event celebrated mostly in southwest (Yoruba). 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.

For 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 whenever the rites are been carried out.