Renowned journalist, Oseni Rufai, has questioned the timing of the Oro Festival in Lagos State, stating that the festival only emerges during election periods.
Taking to his Twitter page, Rufai said, “We no hear about ORO now , na only election period ORO dey comot for Lagos!”
His remark has reignited debates about the intersection of tradition and politics, with many netizens accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the festival as a “propaganda tool” to suppress voter turnout during the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election.
The Oro Festival, a traditional Yoruba event, involves rituals that restrict movement, particularly for women and non-indigenes, during certain hours. Ahead of the March 18 2023 election in Lagos, it was announced the festival would run from March 15 to March 18, with movement restrictions between midnight and 5:30 a.m.
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Critics argued that the timing was suspicious, suggesting it was a calculated effort to intimidate non-indigenous voters, especially those from the Igbo community, who were seen as more likely to support opposition candidates.
Many pointed to a recurring pattern where the Oro Festival appears to coincide with major elections, fueling concerns about voter suppression.
In response to Rufai’s remark, a Twitter user with the handle “@Unbothered”, wrote, “The one wey muzz me be say, whether by divine intervention or not, INEC change date for election, Oro follow change date. That was when it became glaringly evident it was a political event. Shame that people are okay with their traditional institutions being used for politics.”
Another netizen commented, “It’s Jagaban/Ronu’s ORO. It comes out every 4 years between the months of February and March . The next appearance of the ORO will be February 2027.”
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