Lagos – Some residents and business operators in
Ikorodu area of Lagos on Thursday, expressed
satisfaction at the cancellation of the annual tradition
Oro festival.
Oro festival is traditional festival that restricts
women and non indigenes’ movement, paralyses
economic and social activities in the town for its
duration.
Some of the residents and business men said that the
cancellation of the 2015 Oro festival was due to the
absence of a traditional monarch in the town.
They said that the festival, which was scheduled to
hold on May 16, was cancelled because there was no
king to give approval.
Mrs Silifat Adeyemi, a pepper trader at Ayangburen
market said, “I am so happy that the Oro festival has
been cancelled for this year. If it had held, we will
not be able to come to the market as our movement
will be hindered.
“I am trying to save money from the profit of my
trading for the balance of my children’s school fees
and unhindered trading activities is very crucial to
me right now,” she said.
Mr Femi Awobona, a bricklayer said, “normally, I give
my wife money for house upkeep on Saturdays but
when she told me about the Oro festival scheduled
for Saturday, my heart sank.
“This is because I knew I have to drop money before
then and I didn’t have any money. When I heard
about the cancellation of the Oro, I leapt for joy
because God saved me from disgrace,”Awobana said.
Mr Innocent Ekegazie, an accountant, said that the
Oro festival practice was archaic, barbaric and should
be abolished by the government.
“The Oro tradition is an infringement on the rights of
residents of the town and its practice is long overdue
for abolishing .
“It is not an ideal practice and the world is too
civilised for such an outdated tradition.
“It is unimaginable that on the day the festival is
celebrated, we can not go out, businesses will not
open, markets will be shut, even beer parlours will
not open.
“The government should intervene and ensure that
the cancellation is permanent. We do not want Oro
festival again in Ikorodu,” he said.
It will be recalled that since the death of the last
traditional monarch, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, on Aug.
2, 2014, a new king is yet to be coronated in the
town.