Kiss Marathon for Guiness Book of Records and go to 3- year jail, Ekiti warns

By Ologeh Joseph

The Government of Ekiti State has said it would arrest and prosecute promoters of 3-day Marathon Kiss in the State if they insist on carrying out the immoral act.

The State Government on Thursday issued a notice that it would also prosecute owners of facilities that would be used for a proposed 3-day Kiss-A-Thon programme which is aimed at breaking a Guiness World Record (GWR).

According to a Prohibition notice signed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN) in Ado- Ekiti on Thursday and made available to Irohinoodua any person or corporate body that allows himself/ herself and facilities to be used in executing the proposed programme in the State would be prosecuted before an appropriate court.

The action of Ekiti State Government has been hailed a worthy of emulation by other Nigerian states. The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) said the the sanity and morality of the society must be defended.

“The Kiss Marathon is an insult on Yoruba values. What will younger people learn? How does it promote orderliness and culture? It’s an irresponsible proposal that seeks to undermine the Yoruba heritage”, AYDM General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi said.

Apata said the State Government considered the proposed programme as “an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State”.

The Attorney General added that the planned Kiss-A-Thon programme is contrary to sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal law (2021) which prohibits indecent acts and practices in the State, and anyone who violates the law is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.

“The Ekiti State Government has been inundated with a proposed planned 3-day prograamme by some individuals in Ekiti State tagged KISS-A-THON (a programme meant to be a 3-day kissing marathon event planned towards setting a Guiness World Record). The State Government has considered the proposed planned event as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State, particularly sections 148 and 150 Criminal Law no 21 of 2021 which prohibits indecent acts and practices in Ekiti State”.

“That pursuant to the provisions of the law and any other relevant laws applicable in Ekiti State, the proposed programme tagged KISS-A-THON is hereby prohibited throughout the breadth and length of Ekiti State.

“Consequently, no individual or corporate body is allowed to embark upon and/ or execute the proposed planned KISS-A-THON in Ekiti State. That any person and/or corporate body that allows himself or herself and /or facilities to be used in executing/ propagating the proposed planned programme in Ekiti State will be prosecuted before the appropriate court and dealt with according to the law ”, the Attorney General stated.