Traditionalists Dare Oluwo, Say Isese Festival Holds In Iwo On Sunday

Kazeem Badmus

TRADITIONAL Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State has declared 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. 

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that Oba Akanbi, in a viral video, ordered that no Oro festival or sacrifice will take place this year in the ancient town. 

Oba Akanbi in the video said only Almighty God can make the town peaceful, just as he called for the arrest of anyone who places  sacrifice anywhere in the town.

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: “I know for sure Isese festival will come up in Iwo and traditionalists will perform their normal fundamental human rights under Section 48 of the Nigeria Constitution.

“For me, he is not the Oluwo of Iwo because if he read his letter of appointment as Oluwo, he is the custodian of our culture, custom and tradition. So, once he ceases to do that, he has gone against his letter of appointment. 

“What he said was just a rude joke, and maybe he was sleepy when he was talking or maybe he was misquoted. I’m sure he wouldn’t have said that in his right senses.”

Atanda called on the traditionalist to be peaceful and be a role model, warning miscreants to stay away on the day. 

“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.