By Abayomi Elias
Collage picture of Chief Wasiu Jaiyesimi Mabadeje and CPN logo
Some human rights activists protecting the rights of children in Ikorodu central have raised serious concerns with regards to the inability of children in the axis to celebrate year 2025 children’s day as Magbo festival activities coincided with the annual children’s day celebration.
Newsconnect reports that on a WhatsApp loop created for engagement, one of the activists said the organisers of 2025 Magbo should have picked another day for the Oro Festival that the children won’t understand this kind of culture that will deprive them of their day. She posited that it is not nice at all.
Another activist on the group posited that the unfortunate situation for the children in the axis reminded her as advocates for women and children’s rights that they still have a lot to do. How can only men are allowed to move around on Oro days. She asked rhetorically.
Another activist on the platform said we keep saying nothing can be done about it then we will remain like this. We are not asking them to cancel Oro festival, we are saying move it to another day.
Something can be done about it. We can write and it is documented that our children have only one day in the year to celebrate and as a children’s network we feel sad that they are robbed of this day.
If someone did not stand up, Nigeria would still be killing twins, she said.
In contrast to the above, another activist said nothing can be done, that this is our culture. She said civilization cannot change the culture as far as it’s not harmful to anyone.
As part of our work for humanity in any country, you respect the culture of the society as far as it’s not harmful practices. Oro festival is used to ward off evil spirit in the land. I am a Christian and I respect other religions. I am Yoruba but I respect other cultures. If anyone feel it’s not right kindly relocate to urban community in Lagos state where there is no Oro festival. Ikorodu town is a peri-urban where they hold their cultural activities in the highest order, she said.
In an interview with Newsconnect correspondence and the Baba Oloja of IKorodu Division Chief Jaiyesimi Wasiu Mabadeje at the convergence point of the Magbo Festival in Ikorodu to address the plight of the activists, he said;
“Out of the the 12 months in a year, maybe just 3 months out of it is when we don’t engage in traditional ritual cleansing.
“These festivals which include Ogun Festival, Eyibi festival , Magbo Festival, Eluku festival , Agemo Festival, Liwe Festival don’t have fixed dates for the celebration of the festivals.
“We count market days, through that we determine what date a particular festival falls. The counting is every nine days and each day has its own market.
“Forisntance we have Oworo market day, Ebute market day, Obunroke market day, Ogijo market day, it was the advent of state creation that some market days were reduced into the local government structure.
“As 2025 children’s day in Ikorodu coincided with Children’s day, any other festival through counting of market days can equally fall on any day. It may coincide with New year, it my coincide with New year.
“There was a time it coincided with Ileya festival but the organisers exempted it and shifted it. Kabiyesi is always in the know about the choice of dates of festivals. Before choosing a date, the organisers always seek permission from Kabiyesi to intimate him that there would be a festival. After choosing a date for the festival , the organisers again will keep Kabiyesi posted.
“Children’s day has permanent date, but Magbo Festival like every other festivals don’t have a permanent date. The sit at home only applies to the people in Ikorodu. It doesn’t affect people in Igbogbo, Itamaga.
“Those whose children’s day activity is paramount to already made plan B since they knew 2025 children’s day coincided with 2025 Magbo a festival in Ikorodu.
“I even told my children to go to the Island to celebrate their Children’s day. I did this because I do not want to flout the ground norm of our tradition. Before my birth, the celebration of Magbo Festival has been taking place”. He said.
