Nigerians are reacting to the announcement that the Oro Festival will be held from August 1 to August 15, coinciding with a period when some groups reportedly plan to hold #EndBadGovt protests.
The festival’s schedule was disclosed in a notice to Lagos residents that went viral on social media on Wednesday, July 24. The notice read:
“Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from 1st of August to August 15. This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”
This announcement comes just days after some groups revealed plans to stage demonstrations across states in the country from August 1 to August 10 to protest economic hardship.
Nigerians on X are now accusing the Lagos State government of using the Oro festival for political purposes. Many recall that in 2023, ahead of the governorship election in Lagos State, the Oro Festival was also announced, leading protesters to criticize the timing as a strategy to prevent voters opposed to the ruling party from voting freely for their preferred candidates.
See reactions to the current Oro Festival announcement below.
