The Lagos State Government has clarified that it has no involvement in the rumoured Oro festival scheduled for August 1 to 15, which coincides with the planned #EndBadGovernance protest.
According to the report by Punch on Thursday, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said that the Oro festival is a religious activity that should be respected, just like Muslim and Christian events.
Akosile said that the government does not interfere with religious groups’ lawful activities and expects the same respect for traditional worshippers.
He acknowledged the protesters’ rights but urged them to exercise their rights lawfully without disrupting the state’s peace.
He added that government is determined to prevent a recurrence of the 2020 #EndSARS protest, which resulted in destruction and loss of life.
He said, “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.”
He said that protesters have their rights just like the traditional worshippers who want to perform their activities too.
He added, “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.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the protesters to shelve their plans, calling for more patience and promising a response to their grievances.
The planned protest, scheduled to take place across the country, aims to address economic hardship….Seē _ Morē