Posted by By Tunde Lemuel on
Commercial activities were this morning paralysed at Isheri, a Lagos suburb, as shops were closed and residents' movement restricted as the Oro Cultists began their annual festival in the town.
Commercial activities were this morning paralysed at Isheri, a Lagos suburb, as shops were closed and residents' movement restricted as the Oro Cultists began their annual festival in the town.
P.M.News gathered that town criers had yesterday gone round the town telling people not to come out or open their shops today because the Oro Cultists will be on parade in the town and anybody caught would bear the consequence.
Following this announcement, most shops at Isheri and Magodo were shut this morning while residents restricted their movement.
Some residents of Magodo, however, protested the paralysis, saying the traditional cultists should have confined themselves to their enclaves instead of disturbing their businesses.
A defiant resident who damned the consequences and opened her shop, Mrs. Adetimeyin, said nobody told her not to open her shop.
She blamed the town criers for spreading false information and explained that nobody authorised them to announce to residents not to move about or open their shops.
Also condemning the town criers, the Baale of Isheri, Chief A. O. Bankole, said he did not issue any directive for people to stay at home or close their shops.
The Baale, who is marking his 88 birthday, today said he was not in support of the announcement restricting the movement of residents.
Chief Bankole appealed to residents to go about their daily chores, adding that he was not in support of the restriction.
Also corroborating the position of Baale Bankole, the head of traditional masquerades in Isheri, also known as the Alagbaa Chief Babajide said nobody asked residents to close their shops or stay indoors for the Oro festival.
Chief Babajide blamed the town criers for spreading wrong information to the people.
He said residents can come out and open their shops.
'We did not say people should not come out or open their shops. It was misinformation by the town criers," he stated.
Chief Babajide explained that Oro rites are scheduled for 12 midnight and 1a.m. today and that people are expected to stay indoors during this period.
He described the Oro festival as an annual rite to appease the gods for protection, child bearing and peace of the town.