The Ekiti State government has expressed strong opposition to the proposed 72-hour kissing marathon, which aims to set a Guinness World Record. The governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, was taken aback when an organization known as Sugartee announced their plans to hold the longest kissing marathon at a popular amusement park in the state capital on July 7.
In response to this development, the state Ministry of Arts and Culture released a statement on July 5, in which they prohibited the scheduled competition and issued a warning to all hoteliers in the state, urging them not to permit such an event on their premises. The government emphasized that severe sanctions would be imposed on any hotel found to be accommodating such an activity.
The letter, signed by the Director of Tourism, Adebanji Adelusi, on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dele Ogunsemoyin, stated that the proposed event, named 'Kiss-a-thon,' was not only absurd, but also unhealthy, immoral, and likely to tarnish the state's reputation.
The letter further stated, "Kiss-a-thon, as an event, is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral, and capable of denigrating the image of the state, but it is also a program that contradicts the values of the people of the state and could lead to a moral regression among our youth."
"Considering the above, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Tourism hereby prohibits the hosting of such an event or any similar events in any facility that wishes to continue operating lawfully in Ekiti State.
"Therefore, you are hereby requested to relay the contents of this notice to the members of the Ekiti State Hoteliers' Association, in order to effectively monitor their establishments and prevent any negative activities that could bring embarrassment to the Government and People of Ekiti State," the statement concluded.
