I’d Rather Die Than Leave Traditional Religion - Popular Nigerian ‘Isese’ Worshipper, Tani Olohun Says

Abdulazeez Adegbola, widely recognized as Tani Olohun and a practitioner of traditional religion, has stated that he has no intention of abandoning his faith, contrary to speculations.

Tani Olohun said this during an exclusive interview session with BBC Yoruba monitored by SaharaReporters.

He stated that there was no time he agreed to convert to Islam for his cases to be dismissed in Kwara State.

Tani Olohun spent 91 days at the Federal Correctional Service in Ilorin, the state capital, for allegedly defaming some Islamic clerics.

He was released in November 2023.

The Isese worshipper said the dismissal of the cases filed against him was because he agreed to tender a public apology to those who took him to court.

He said, “I came from a Muslim background. My mother is Alhaja, my father is Alhaji. But I later discovered myself, I realised there is nothing like Christianity or Islam, Yoruba people originated from Isese.

“It was not because I claimed I would return to Islam that my court cases were dismissed (at Kwara courts). My cases were rejected because of what I and my solicitors informed them. They indicated that the persons who filed charges against me wanted me to apologise.

“And I understood I had no other choice except to apologise. And this is what drove me to leave the prison. I never promised to convert to Islam. I am a traditionalist; I should die the day I decide to stop worshipping Isese. Nothing can force me to pray Solat (Islamic prayer); I would rather die now than return to Islam tomorrow.”

“My mother, my father and my wife are Muslims. But since I have left Islam, definitely my wife must follow me, but I don’t have any power over my parents not to practise Islam,” he added.