Traditional Worshippers in Oyo State have said the recent hands of fellowship extended to their members by the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, indicated that the public holiday they craved for would soon be approved by the government.
This was revealed today by the Araba Oluisese of Ibadanland, High Chief Ifalere Odegbemi Odegbola at the 2022 Osemeji Obamoro Festival, which held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan.
Odegbola hinted that various administrations in the past did not accord traditional worshippers open hands, assuring the present government of the support of his people towards achieving success in the policy, programmed and activities of the administration.
The event was attended by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture And Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Prince Yemisi Adeaga and his executive members, the Chairman, Association of Traditional Worshippers, Oyo State Chapter, Surveyor Adefabi Dasola and his Secretary, Mogaji Dr. Fakayode Fayemi Fatunde among and other dignitaries.
Chief Ifalere talked about the significance of the Ose Meji Obamoro day, saying it was a day to commemorate the establishment of Ibadan city.
He went into the historical background of Ibadan and how Lagelu, the founder of the city consulted divinity (Ose Meji) after the devolution of the old Ibadan and from Awotan, the oracle asked that Ibadan would start on a steep hill of the present day Oja Oba, beside the historical Mapo Hill.
He saluted the efforts of the present administration in the state in the area of good governance and recent inclusion of traditional worshippers in State activities.
He said, “The invitation extended to our people at the recent State’s Interfaith Prayer programme and other official events have made us believe that governor Makinde is ready to embrace all religious sects without bias and it indicates that our clamor for a public holiday to celebrate Isese Festival will soon be approved. It is no gainsaying that he has our support for all these attributes and his second term election support is our responsibility, our people will not abandon him, especially if he accede to our prayer.”
The State Secretary of Traditional Worshippers Association, Mogaji Dr. Fakayode Fayemi Fatunde and the President, Ose Meji Ibadan Foundation, Ifayemi Ifakayode called on the state government to go a step further in the new relationship forged with the traditionalists and declare a holiday for them.
They claimed that the gesture would cement the love the adherents of tradition religion have for the governor and his government.
According to Fakayode, the recent happenings have shown that a certain level of understanding and cooperation between the government and practitioners of traditional religion has been forged. This is a good signal that the government will no more be partial against us. Although our people are skeptical, we want to believe that this is a pointer to good things to come, as related to a special holiday for traditional worshippers.”
In his speech, Olatubosun said it was a new dawn for traditional worshippers in the state as indicated in their inclusion in state activities and urged them not to relent in their support for the governor and the government of the state.
He challenged them to work further to instill the Yoruba decorum, discipline, culture and language in their younger ones, especially in a world that is daily embracing western ideals and jettisoning what he called the value of Omoluabi spirit.
“Our governor is here in spirit and since you all have said it that he has done what his predecessors failed to do in giving you hands of friendship, then it is time to start the gospel of another good term for Engr. Seyi Makinde. He has done so much for us all in changing the face of Oyo State in physical infrastructure, education, health and economic turnaround, it is our turn to appreciate him, we shall then witness more,” he promised.
