The traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola (Kusenla III), has declared a three-day Oro rite on non-indigenes and women from midnight to 5:30 a.m., including on Saturday’s governorship and state assembly election day.

In a memo issued to the residents of Ikate-Elegushi, the monarch announced that there would be a restriction of movement to perform the Oro rite in the community from Wednesday to Saturday.

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.

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

“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,” Mr Oyefeso told Peoples Gazette.

Mr Oyefeso 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.”

The Gazette contacted Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesman in Lagos, on the matter.

“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,” Mr Hundeyin said.

The spokesperson for the State Security Service, Peter Afunanya, did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the matter.

President-elect Bola Tiunbu of the All Progressives Congress lost to Peter Obi of the Labour Party in Eti-Osa local government area. Mr Obi polled 42,388 votes, while Mr Tinubu had 15,317.

Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has intensified his campaign a few days before the governorship election.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, alongside Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, Funso Doherty of the Africa Democratic Congress, and Abdulazeez Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party, are among the candidates contesting the governorship election.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT! HRM. ALAYELUWA OBA SAHEED ADEMOLA ELEGUSHI, KUSENLA III. ELEGUSHI OF IKATE KINGDOM AND ENVIRON. WISH TO ANNOUNCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ORO RITE WILL HOLD IN THE IKATE KINGDOM AND ITS ENVIRONS FROM TODAY WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH 2023 TO SATURDAY 18TH MARCH 2023. (3DAYS) RESIDENCE AND PASSERSBY ARE WARNED TO STAY INDOORS OR STAY OFF THE KINGDOM BEFORE MIDNIGHT THAT THE RITE WILL COMMENCE TO 5:30AM ON EACH DAY. THIS EXERCISE IS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, PLEASE LET US COOPERATE AND COMPLY WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS. HIS ROYAL MAJESTY REGRETS ANY INCONVENIENCE.

ONILU ONI JE KI ILU O TU OLORUN ELEDUMARE A GBA IWURE WA.

ASE O...

@Ati De Ade Kiniun

Moh247:
I just love Oba Elegushi

Moh247:
I just love Oba Elegushi

Hoelujohn:

Lagos must be captured and delivered to Sanwolu by force.

Hoelujohn:

Lagos must be captured and delivered to Sanwolu by force.

inoki247:
Lol people wey dey always make mouth come online fit choose to break the rules...


Anytime someone try to brag and tell me his a Lagosians I always tell dem whenever Eluku show I will come nd call u so we go fit watch am together if e sure for u.....

Some people thinks Lagos ends on the island until u waka reach Ikorodu enta imota, different villages that practice all this things den u will know Lagos na 2 version....

Beremx:
Non-indigenes shouldn't come out because of Oro abi? No wahala as long it affects those from Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Ogun. We all will stay indoors for Oro. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Zonefree:

Captured from who

Dentidon:
Yoruba heritage. Now you know Lagos is not a no man's land.

Naira20:
Kikikiki
I remember that church woman who killed the Oro leader with coconut.

This will give lagosians the opportunity to demystify the useless Oro cult.

I trust OBIdients.
They know what to do.

Naira20:
He will end up rubbishing Oro.
With a very good catapult , stones and wild dogs let's see whether even the Oba will come out

Maybe he thinks guys are joking

Moh247:


You can go there yourself to demystify Oro... Please update us on Nairaland sha

Moh247:


You can go there yourself to demystify Oro... Please update us on Nairaland sha

Naira20:
Guy, rest...It has been demystified severally.
It's ibos you can terrify with all these nonsense