Traditionalists free to exercise human rights, Adeleke tells Oluwo

The paramount ruler of Iba Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji, has said that man cannot alienate himself from his ancestral culture and heritage. The monarch said this while felicitating with all lovers of tradition and culture in Iba, Lagos State, on the occasion of the 2023 yearly Isese festival.
He said African traditions and religious beliefs were expected to enjoy primacy and recognition like Christianity and Islam.

The traditional ruler, who commended the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for understanding the significance of celebrating and preserving the culture, thereby declaring a public holiday to commemorate this year’s Isese Day, said: “We must celebrate our rich cultural heritage as nobody will ever do that for us. So, we must cleanse our minds off all forms of notions that Yoruba’s traditions are evil or occult. All black descendants must come to terms with the role tradition plays in our life history as a people.”

He appealed to Lagosians to move closer to their roots, embrace the richness in African culture and traditions, adding that efforts must be made to ensure that moderation and peaceful co-existence serve as everyone’s watchword during and after the festivities.

MEANWHILE, amid the controversy sparked by the ban on traditional religious practices in Iwoland by Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, said traditionalists are free to exercise their fundamental human rights.

It would be recalled that Oluwo had banned worshipping of deities in his domain indefinitely, stating that it does not align with civilisation. The traditional worshippers, however, dared the monarch by insisting that they would continue their activities, especially to mark 2023 “Isese Day.”

Adeleke, while intervening in the crisis, urged peaceful co-existence among all religious groups. A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the governor deployed his special adviser on security, Samuel Ojo, to Iwo for urgent interface with both sides. He said the special adviser at the palace of Iwo met various stakeholders, including a telephone conversation with Oluwo who was out of town.

The statement read: “He also had interactions with some traditionalists who had vowed to converge on Iwoland to challenge the traditional ruler who had reportedly banned traditionalists from his domain.”

“He spoke with Kabiyesi, Oluwo, and promised to ensure peace and security though he is out of town. He interacted with some other traditional leaders not far from the palace.

“The message is that peaceful co-existence is a must and any group that breaches the peace of the state will have security operatives to contend with. We have taken all necessary security precautions. The traditionalists are free to exercise their fundamental human rights. They must act within the bounds of the law.”