The Lagos State Government has distanced itself from the rumoured upcoming Oro festival scheduled for August 1 to 15 which is coinciding with the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Last night, an X handle announced that the traditional festival will be held on the same days the strike is scheduled for. This has raised eyebrows with some Nigerians accusing the political class and the state government of ‘’politicizing the festival” with an attempt to use it to scare some residents of the state from participating in the strike.
However, in a chat with Punch, Gboyega Akosile who is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state’s Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said like other religious festivals, the state government has no input in the Oro festival. He stated that no one questions the government when other religions hold their activities.
He noted that the same respect should be maintained for traditional worshippers because they have the right to worship according to the constitution and can go about their lawful exercises.
“Oro festival is like Muslim and Christian activities and has no business with Lagos State government interference. We don’t have a hand in how any religious group goes about their lawful activities.
The protesters have their rights just like the traditional worshippers who want to perform their activities too. What is our business in that?”
If anybody wants to protest, they should come out and carry out their right lawfully by not disrupting the business activities in the state. We will not allow the peace of the state to be disrupted. No responsible government will allow it” he said
Alluding to the 2020 #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of property and loss of lives in the state, Akosile said the state government frowns on its recurrence and would stop it from happening again.
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