Oro festival, ploy to disenfranchise Lagos voters – Rhodes-Vivour

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) has cried out that the reports that the Oro Cult Festival will hold during the March 18 governorship election is an attempt to disenfranchise voters.

Speaking on Wednesday, March 15, Rhodes-Vivour further described the reports as unconfirmed, unverified and false.

According to him, the reports, attributed to two traditional rulers – the Baale of Ijegun and Oba Eleguishi – were intended to scare voters from turning out for the election.

“It is a lie, unconfirmed and false. Traditional rulers know better than to organise any festival that will disenfranchise any voter in this period,” he said.

However, reacting to the reports, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom in Lagos State, Saheed Ademola, stressed that that festival would not affect the governorship election.

Speaking on behalf of the monarch, the media aide to the traditional ruler, Temitope Oyefeso stressed that the restriction of movement for the Oro rites in Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom will commence on Wednesday, March 15 and end on Friday, March 17.

“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,” he added.