Lagos Defers Eyo Festival Indefinitely

LAGOS, Sept 20, (THEWILL) - Lagos State Government has deferred the Adamu Orisa play otherwise known as Eyo Festival previously scheduled to take place on October 02, 2010, till further notice.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele today disclosed this along with his counterpart in Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Babatunde Balogun, at a news conference in the state secretariat.

Bamidele said the festival was suspended due to the on-going General Certificate Examinations (GCE), which over 15,000 external students had registered to write in the state.

Bamidele said Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) had consequently advised both Oba of Lagos and Oba of Oniru land to seat down and work out a new date and advise government accordingly.

He said a new date that would not infringe on any national event would be announced soon to the public, stressing that all publicity in regards to the festival would be stepped down as soon as possible.

On the earlier notice and invitation to tourist and invited guests, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture said the government has informed them privately adding that an official notice would be sent as a follow up.

He said about 55 schools that are serving as examination centres would be involved during the festival, stressing that it was in the interest of the children and the society at large that informed government’s decision to postpone the festival.

The Eyo festival approved by the Oba of Lagos was earlier scheduled to hold in honour of late Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru, the 13th Chief Oniru of Lagos and grandfather of the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engineer Adesegun Oniru.