Traditionalists Blame Religious Leaders For Disintegration Of Societal Values

By Shina Abubakar

Yoruba traditional religion worshippers have identified the inadequacies of religious leaders as one of the major factors contributing to the disintegration of societal values across the Nigeria.

They stated this, as majority of traditionalists across all the Local Government Areas in the State of Osun recently converged on Technical School playing ground in celebration of the 2017 Isese Day to commemorate world traditional religious day.

The United Nations had declared August 20 as world Traditional Religious Day to celebrate the commencement of traditional calendar, especially, the Yoruba New Year.

At the gathering for this year celebration, the traditionalists made public spiritual messages for the New Year and urged every stakeholder to adhere to the message to ensure peace reign supreme in the state and country as a whole.

The group declared that all religious leaders must adhere to the do’s and don’ts of their religious beliefs, saying the inadequacies of religious leaders were major factors contributing to the disintegration of societal values across the country.

It insisted that religious leaders must lead by example and focus on their spiritual roles and live by such religious ethos.

According to the revelation, the youths must desist from illicit act, social vices and stay away from abuse of drugs, while the women must steer clear of promiscuity in order to live a happy life in the future, otherwise they would face irredeemable consequences in the future.

According to Priest Fagbenle Adedayo, all stakeholders must work together to further inculcate and educate youths on the significance of Yoruba values to the safety of their future and the wellbeing of the society.

It also urged the state government to be thorough in its transactions with its partners to avoid being duped and should put measures in place to ensure the recovery of the state looted fund, saying the future is bright for the state.

Part of the seven day activities include visitations, offering of prayers for the country and its leaders at the palace of Ooni of Ife, presentation of Public lecture on the need to restore Yoruba moral values in youths as well as oral folklore competition among the various zones in the state.

Other activities used to mark the event include traditional dance competition, traditional games, football competition, as well as visitation to General Hospital, Ede to offer gift and prayers to the sick ones.

At the grand finale, the Araba Awo of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon offered prayer for the country, state and the leaders for peace, prosperity, wisdom and good health.

The highlight of the event include march-past by various traditional religion devotees, such as Olokun, Oloya, Olosun, Eleegun, Obatala devotees among others as well as traditional dances.