First Oba Nojeem Aberejo a Lagos traditional monarch denied claims that Oro festival, a patriarchal traditional rite common among Yoruba had been scheduled for 18 March, the day set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the governorship and state legislature elections.
Oba Aberejo, the Alake of Akesan told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that: “It is absolutely untrue, there is nothing like that, I will not be a part of illegality.”
A Twitter user, Abdulmahmud alleged that the monarch scheduled the festival on election day to prevent voters from turning up to exercise their civic rights.
Likewise, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola (Kusenla III), debunked the claim of fixing the Oro cult ritual on Saturday, March 18, which is the day of governorship and state assembly elections.
Thereafter, media aide to Kusenla III, Temitope Oyefeso, clarified that the traditional rites which has been scheduled to run from Wednesday to Saturday was not intended to frighten and keep voters away in the Ikate-Elegushi area of Lagos since the rites would end by 5 am on Saturday.
However, controversial Lagos lawyer, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo has given reasons why Oba Elegushi must postpone the Oro cult rite.
“It is shocking that in the 21st century, the Oba of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola (Kusenla III) can with audacity and impunity declare to the residents of Ikate-Elegushi, that there would be a restriction of movement on non-indigenes and women from midnight to 5:30 a.m., including on Saturday’s governorship and state assembly election for him to perform the Oro rite in the community from Wednesday to Saturday during election.
“This move by Oba Elegushi is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and must be stopped immediately because it is not with the backing of any known law in Nigeria Our laws are very clear that African traditions are good as long as they do not go contrary to public policy and natural justice, equity and good conscience.
“The scheduling of Oro rites during election has failed all the above tests and must therefore be cancelled or postponed for now until after the elections on Saturday. I am calling on the civil society, the Lagos State Governor, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police, the Army, President Buhari and the international community to weigh into this matter before it gets out of hand.
“The Nigerian 1999 constitution Is very clear that nobody or institution has the right to violate the fundamental rights of other Nigerians to move freely, peacefully assemble and association and to freely express themselves through the ballot box except with the backings of the law. The Oro rite if allowed to go on will disenfranchise many women and many non-indigenes whose sin is to believe in one Nigeria or forced into it.
“The results of polling units in front of Oba Elegushi’s palace for the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections on 25/2/2023 was cancelled because members of the Elegushi family destroyed the polling units and intimidated voters They were arrested quite alright by the Army who handed them over to the police and nothing has been done about the matter since then notwithstanding that innocent law-abiding Nigerian citizens were deprived of their rights to vote.”
Meanwhile, legal practitioners under the umbrella of Lawyers for Peter Obi have called on INEC and Nigerian security agencies to immediately stop continued attacks and intimidation against supporters of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State.
The lawyers in a statement asked the Lagos State government led by the All Progressives Congress, to ensure that its “supporters, thugs, and candidates conduct themselves in a civil manner.”
