Traditional Religion Worshippers Demand Recognition From FG

Vanguard reports that traditional religion worshippers across the country have sent a message to the Federal Government.

The traditionalists urged the federal government to make every August 20th as the public holiday for traditional religion adherents in the country. 

The traditional religion adherents also called on the federal government and state governors across the country to give more recognition to them the way it is being given to Muslims and Christians during public events and prayers.

Baba Ifalere Ifagbenro, who is the spokesperson for International Council for Ifa Orisa religion under the auspices of Olu Isese Makoranwale Awodotun made stated this while speaking with journalists yesterday in Ibadan.

Ifagbenro who is the Oluwo lfa ldingbe temple, spoke on behalf of traditional religion worshippers across the country.

He condemned what he called marginalisation of traditional religion adherents across the country in terms of benefits and recognition. 

Ifagbenro who advised the federal government to make August 20 every year as the public holiday for traditional religion adherents, noted that it will be unfair if both Muslims and Christians are given six or seven days as public holidays in a year without any consideration for the traditional worshipers. 

He said that both Muslims and Christians enjoy public holidays during their festivities for one or two days but the traditional religion adherents have no such opportunity to go on holiday during their own time. 

Ifagbenro who said that the oracle had earlier in January 29th 2022, revealed that the president elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would become Nigeria president, insisted that no amount of permutation can prevent the president elect to become the number one citizen in May this year. 

lfagbenro who is the Oluwo lfa ldingbe Temple, added that the wishes of those calling for interim government cannot come to past. 

He used the opportunity to congratulate Tinubu and governors from the South West among whom are Seyi Makinde (Oyo) Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun). 

He urged governor Seyi Makinde to give proper recognition to the traditional worshippers. 

He said that traditional worshippers deserved proper recognition like Muslims and Christians in the state. 

“We appreciate Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during the last general elections. We want to congratulate the president elect, Bola Tinubu, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Sanwoolu in Lagos and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun. We also congratulate Ademola Adeleke of Osun state over his victory at the appeal court.”

“We want to appeal to those who lost during the elections to accept the defeat and cooperate with the winners to move Nigeria forward.”

“There will no interim government. Tinubu will still be the president, this has been revealed by the oracle since 29th January 2022 that despite the wars he will still be president.”

“Our demands are:  We want the same recognition to be given to us the way it is being given to Muslims and Christians. Both Muslims and Christians are enjoying holidays for six or seven days each in a year.”

“And we are demanding our own holiday. The federal government should declare August 20th as our public holiday.”

“We want the president elect to include traditional religion adherents as part of the people that will offer prayer for him during the inauguration the way they are allowing Muslims and Christians to pray. He should be the first president to do such thing.” 

“We want the board of traditional medicine to be functional and strengthened in all the states especially those from the south west.”

“We also condemned the burning of shrine by some people in Ile Ife. We want Adeleke to intervene in the matter. The government should provide adequate security for traditional religion adherents too.”

“We are Nigerians, we pay our taxes. They should allow us practice our religion without fear or molestation.”