Kazeem Badmus
THE President of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association of Osun State, Oluseyi Atanda, has, warned devotees of Osun River to stop taking the contaminated water to avoid kidney failures.
Atanda while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo said the Osun water has been contaminated by corrupt politicians, adding that the state government ought to have announced to the public not to drink the water.
The TRAWSO president noted that it is an infringement on the fundamental religious right of people for the government to have allowed the water get contaminated.
He added that some devotees will still consume the water despite its current condition, calling on the state government to enlighten the public on the danger of using the water.
Atanda said: “If the adherent does not stop to take this water, there is going to be an increase in kidney disease. Osun devotees are still drinking the water and the government has not done anything about it. The best we can do is to continue to tell people that they can use the water to pray, and wash their feet and hands but they should not drink.
“Even as herbal concoction, it has been contaminated. We know that in spirituality, even in Ifa, there are times you may have a herb, concoction or medicine in the house that Ifa will tell you from definition that this herbal preparation has been contaminated or has been bewitched and should be thrown away.
“So, it is the same process and principle that we can say that this water has been contaminated and bewitched but not by the witches but by the corrupt greedy politicians that are ruling us and people should not drink.
“But you know at times, this information may not go around, probably because the government too does not want to be embarrassed. Ideally, such information should be on all radio stations. It should be on billboards at the entrance of the Osun Groove so that nobody will claim ignorance.
“Some people can also be fanatical just like every religion and also tell you that no matter how much the water has been contaminated, they believe in the spiritual essence of Osun which will make the water work for them. That is where the government has a role to play.”
He added: “It is an infringement on the fundamental religious right of people for the government to have allowed that water to get contaminated and two years running now, the government has not deemed it necessary to do anything about it.
“Government has not deemed it necessary to apologise to us for contaminating the water. This is like shutting down a church or a mosque for no reason. This, they will not do with any other religion.
“We must also remember that water is a continuum. Water flows in and out of the Osun Groove.
“Unfortunately for us, Muslims and Christians will drink this water and not only Osun devotees because as the water flows out of the Osun Groove, it joins some other waters. It drains into well water that may be used in nearby homes, restaurants and eateries where they use well water. So, people should look at it beyond being the problem of Osun devotees.”
