Lagos Monarch fixes Oro ritual on election day, directs non-indigenes not to come out for three days

Patrick OdeyMarch 15, 2023

2 minutes read

The traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola (Kusenla III), has declared a three-day Oro rite starting from midnight to morning on Wednesday to Saturday.

Non-indigenes and women in Ikate-Elegushi may not be able to participate in the forthcoming Saturday’s governorship and state assembly following the directive of the traditional ruler of the Ikate Kingdom.

Recall that Ikate Kingdom is part of the Eti-Osa local government area of the state where President-elect Bola Tiunbu of the All Progressives Congress lost to Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Obi polled 42,388 votes, while Mr. Tinubu had 15,317.

The special assistant on media affairs to the Ikate Kingdom’s monarch, Temitope Oyefeso confirmed that an Oro rite will be happening in the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom.

He said: “Yes, there is an Oro rite happening in the Ikate kingdom. So, the Elegushi community council decided that residents and visitors should be in their houses from midnight to morning on Wednesday to Saturday.”

Oyefeso however debunked the allegation that it will affect election activities on Saturday, declaring, “We are not saying people should sit at home during the day like they have in other places.”

He added, “Elections are held during the day, and by morning we will open the roads for people to come. It is a traditional rite. But unfortunately, it has come at this time. It is an annual event, and this is not the first time. We are not disrupting any process.”

According to him, the Oro rite will bring peace to the community, adding that it happens in all communities within Lagos.

He explained that non-indigenes registered to vote in Elegushi will partake in the voting process, reiterating that “they will not leave the house to vote by 2:00 a.m., so they ought to be in their house.”

“Voting starts by 8:00 a.m., and there is a police curfew for midnight on election day. We are not doing anything different from what the police have done. It will just commence two days earlier,” the monarch’s spokesman explained.

“People should stop speculating rumours or being mischievous about Oro rites; it is not interfering with the process of the election. Residents can move about from morning till 11:30 p.m.”

Residents of the community alleged there is a political motive for the curfew, which will further disenfranchise women and non-indigenes from voting on election day. Others complained that it would paralysed commercial activities in the community.

When the Gazette contacted Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesman in Lagos, on the matter, Hundeyin said: “Do you want to talk about rumour or you want to talk about facts? I am not engaging in hearsay. They have the freedom to say whatever they want to say. I will not engage in speculation.”