Traditionalist in Ogun State have dare the state government over their plan to hold the Oro Festival despite government directive that the activity be suspended.

CEOAFRICA news desks learnt on Friday that the Oro Festival popularly refers to as Isemo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state is expected to commence tonight and run through Saturday till Sunday morning (both day and night) by the Oro cultists in Ogere and Ikenne towns despite the banning by the government.

The directive was coming at a time when the Muslim month of Ramadan is ongoing, thus coinciding with the Oro Traditional calendar for the festival in Remo area of the State. It was however gathered that the traditional ruler had communicated the decision of the state government to the Oro cultists but they insisted in carrying out the festival being an annual event.

The Oro handlers have however announced the commencement of the festival in

different part of Remo including Ogere, Ilishan, Ikenne town and Irolu for consecutive three days at different days in the communities this month in defiance to the state government orders.

This development was generating fear in the communities where similar experience in the past sparked up violence.

The state government had banned the activities of Oro Festival across the state following clashes in some part of the state last year and controversies that surrounded the festival.

The directive was issued in a letter addressed to the Ologere of Ogere, Oba Oladele Ogunbade dated 9th of July, 2013 in response to his request for the conduct of the Oro traditional festival in Remo area of the State.

In the letter dated 9th July 2013 and tittled ‘Annual  Oro Traditional Festival" signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Cabinet and special Services, Mrs K.I Akinwande and made available to newsmen on Friday, the state government said the decision of the government banning day time Oro festival last year remained intact."The Kabiyesi is humbly requested to know that Day Time Oro Festival has been banned anywhere in the State, henceforth.

"I wish to draw Kabiyesi’s attention to the letter No. OGR/OL/13 dated June 17, 2013 on the above mentioned subject (copy attached) and to inform Your Royal Highness of the State Government’s decision on ‘Day Time Oro Festival’ as contained in the attached letter No YTC.07/XX/132 of September 27, 2011," parrt of the statement read.

The letter was copied to the Chief Imam, Ogere Muslim Community Council; the

Commissioner of police,Ogun State Command Headquarters, Eleweran; and the State Director of Security, State Security Services, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The state government referred Oba Ogunbade to the letter of the Yewa Traditional Council where the decision was reached.

The letter dated 27th September, 2012, signed by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and addressed to all Yewa Obas reads: According to the state government, celebration of Oro Festival in the day time is

seen as an infrigemeent on the Fundamental human right of every citizen to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Nigeria Constitution.

"It has been resolved that, all Oro Festival activities should be restricted to the night between the hour of 12 midnight to 4am with proper approval from the Royal father of the respective domain where the festival is been held coupled with police permit," it added.

However, the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government Hon. Tajudeen Salako has played down the state government order by granting a permission to hold day time Oro Festival to the Oro Cultists in Ikenne Town.

In a letter dated 15th July 2013 with reference no IKLG.74/Vol.v/89, addressed to the Chief Olumale of Ikenne, and tittled: Re: Approval to celebrate annual Oro Festiva for year 2013 and signed by Mrs. G.O Adebayo; for the Chairman, it reads " I am directed to refer to your letter dated June 4th 2013 for the celebration of Oro Festival on 19th to 27th July 2013, and to inform you that it has been approved".

Reacting, the state Coordinator, National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), Ogun state chapter; Alhaji Kamaldeen Otukoya lauded the effort of state government in promoting fundamental human right and religious harmony among people of Ogun.

He however, berated the action of Oro cultists in Remo who insisted on going ahead with day time oro ritual not minding the state government instruction. He appeals to the Muslims in the area to remain calm and allow law enforcement agents to do their work.

 Notwithstanding, he vows to mobilize all possible means to prevent reversal of the government in any part of the state.Furthermore; the Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) has called for the arrest, removal and prosecution of the chairman Ikenne local Hon. Tajudeen Salako for authorize day time Oro festival which has been proscribed since September 2012. Speaking through its state Coordinator; Mr Soliu Luqman, he described the action as insubordination and act of illegality for a chairman of a local government to overrule the order made by his own State government.

He called on the law enforcement agents to ensure total compliance to the state order in every part of the state and prevent breakdown of law and order.