The Ekiti State government has slammed a ban on a three-day kissing marathon to set the Guinness World Record in the state.
A group identified as Sugartee had set in motion plans for the longest world kissing marathon slated to hold Saturday at an amusement park in the state capital.
Reacting to the development, the state Ministry of Arts and Culture in a statement Wednesday, banned the scheduled competition and warned all hoteliers in the state not to allow their premises to be used for such exercise.
The state government also warned that heavy sanctions will be visited on any hotel found to harbour such an exercise
The letter by the Director of Tourism, Adebanji Adelusi on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dele Ogunsemoyin, noted that the planned event tagged ‘Kiss-a-thon ‘ was capable of denigrating the image of the state.
‘’Kiss-a-thon” as an event is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral and capable of denigrating the image of the state. It is a programme that runs counter to the values of the people of the state and therefore capable of plunging our youths morally backwards.
“In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism hereby prohibits the hosting of such event or any other events like it in any facility that wishes to continue to operate lawfully in Ekiti State.
“To the above, you are hereby requested to convey the content of this Notice to the members of Ekiti State Hoteliers’ Association to effectively monitor their outlets against being used negatively to cause embarrassment to the Government and People of Ekiti State.” the statement read.
