Traditional worshippers advocate active oath-taking
The President, International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), Dr Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, has called on governments and monarchs in Yorubaland to practice traditional religion to bring succour to the ailing economy and boost the nation’s recognition abroad.
Fakayode made the call during the 2024/2025 World Ifa Festival, which was held at the World Ifa Temple, Oke-Itase, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and other dignitaries were present to witness the festival.
Fakayode, while appreciating the Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo state governments for declaring August 20 of every year as public holiday for traditional worshippers, tasked them to do more in defending the traditional religion and leverage on its global respect to promote its tourism potential.
He, however, called on traditional rulers in Yorubaland to respect their crowns and make it a matter of compulsion to practice Isese, the religion of their fore-bearers, to regain the lost glory of the tribe.
The ICIR President commended the Ooni of Ife for doing within his capacity to support Yoruba spirituality and religion.
He said: “In fact, Baba Oonirisa, though rules over all, irrespective of religious affinities, is working assiduously for revival, survival and development of Isese/Ifa, his own religion and spirituality.
“I, on behalf of Araba Agbaye and all Ifa devotees throughout the world, implore Oodua traditional rulers to respect the basis of their crowns. It is compulsory for them to practice Isese and follow Ifa for the stools they occupy belong to the Orisa.”
