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Tuesday 24 July 2012

Religious Crisis Looms in Ogun as Traditionalists Holds Oro Festival in Ramadan


Ogun State Chapter of Muslim Rights' Concern (MURIC) has raised alarm over an impending religious crisis in the State as Oro festival was scheduled to hold during the on-going Ramadhan fasting in Remo zone of the state.

Oro festival is a traditional rite when no movement is allowed for certain parts of the day which lasted up to seven days.

In a letter signed by the State Co-ordinator, Soliu Luqman which was addressed to the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remoland, said the alarm was in the interest of peaceful co-existence and sustainable serenity hitherto enjoyed in Ogun State.

Quoting section 41(1) of the 1999 constitution, the organisation argues that 'every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria without any restriction except as otherwise provided for by the constitution'

"It is in the interest of peaceful co-existence and sustainable serenity hitherto enjoyed in Ogun State that Muslim Rights' Concern wishes to intimate you of impending religious crisis in the state which is likely to be instigated by the antiquated traditional practice in Remoland.

"The practice is the movement restriction of people in the said area by Oro worshippers for three days every year. The areas prominent with the practice are Ilishan Remo, Ikenne Remo and some other towns and villages in the area.    


The Association requested the stakeholders in the state, including Governor Ibikunle Amsoun to restrict the worshippers to 12 am - 3 am for their activities.

It also requested the authorities to, in the interest of religious harmony, draw the attention of the traditional rulers in the area to the fundamental human rights of the people in their domain.

It further threatened to take a legal action should the authorities failed to do the right thing within a period of time.

It was gathered that the ceremony will be held in Ikenne on 27th - 28th July while it will be held in Ilishan Remo on 3rd - 5th August when the fasting period will still be on.

The letter, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta was copied to the Governor, Senator Amosun, the state Commissioner of Police, State Director of SSS, Commissioners of Justice and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among others

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