Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has warned traditionalists and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, against religious conflict and confrontations in the state, affirming that all adherents of various religions should operate peacefully.
Responding to the altercation between the Oluwo and the traditional religious worshippers association on the celebration of Isese festival, Governor Adeleke deployed his Special Adviser on Security, Mr Samuel Ojo to Iwo for urgent interface with both sides.
The Special Adviser who was at the palace at Iwo met various stakeholders including a telephone conversation with Oluwo who was out of town.
He also had interactions with some traditionalists who had vowed to converge at Iwoland to challenge the traditional ruler who had reportedly banned traditionalists from his domain.
“I came down on the directive of Mr Governor. I spoke with Kabiyesi, Oluwo and he promised to ensure peace and security though he is out of town. I interacted with some other traditional leaders not far from palace.
OSUN DEFENDER had on Friday reported that the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State affirmed that the ban on traditionalists’ activities in Iwo by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, was a rude joke which holds no water, stating that the annual Isese Festival will hold in the town on August 20, 2023.
Oba Akanbi, in a viral video, ordered that no Oro festival or sacrifice will take place this year in the ancient town, saying only Almighty God can make the town peaceful, just as he called for the arrest of anyone who places sacrifice anywhere in the town.
READ ALSO: Isese Day: Osun Govt. Declares Monday Public Holiday
Reacting to Oba Akanbi’s directive, the President of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, said Oluwo was no longer acting as a monarch with his actions, adding that he cannot stop people from performing their fundamental rights.
Atanda said: “Let us come in our hundreds. There is nobody that has the right to prevent us from exercising our fundamental human rights and in as much as we are doing this, we should do it peacefully, orderly and be a model of the true Omoluabi that we are”, he stated.
Governor Adeleke in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed stressed further that: ” The message is that peaceful co-existence is a must and any group that breaches peace of the state will have security operatives to contend with.
” We have taken all neccesary security precautions . The traditionalists are free to exercise their fundamental human rights. They must act within the bound of law. The Governor has also declared Monday 21st as a public holiday to commemorate the 2023 Isese Day Festival,” the Security Adviser noted.
