The Lagos State Government has distanced itself from the rumoured upcoming Oro festival scheduled for August 1 to 15, coinciding with the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The government likened it to other religious activities held across the country.

Speaking in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Online, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state’s Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said no one questions the government when other religions hold their activities.

He noted that the same respect should be maintained for traditional worshippers because they have the right to worship according to the constitution and can go about their lawful exercises.

“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.

“The protesters have their rights just like the traditional worshippers who want to perform their activities too. What is our business in that?”

“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,” he said.

Alluding to the 2020 #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of property and loss of lives in the state, Akosile said the state government frowns on its recurrence and would stop it from happening again.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that some Nigerians were planning to protest against economic hardship in the country.

The demonstration, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, starting from August 1.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has appealed to them to shelve the planned protests while calling for more patience.

The appeal was made known through his Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, who briefed State House correspondents after a meeting with the President on Tuesday.

Idris said Tinubu urged the organisers of the protest to shelve the plan and await the President’s response to their complaints.

“The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He’s asked them to shelve that plan. He’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas,” the minister said.

However, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 elections, has backed the planned nationwide protest.

In a statement, Atiku slammed the government of Tinubu for attempting to suppress the protesters, saying it was an exercise in futility.

He noted that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are affected by the hunger, anger, and hopelessness caused by the government’s incompetence and cluelessness. (The PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)

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