Traditional religious worshippers have urged the federal and state governments to grant them the same respect as Muslims and Christians during public events and prayers.
They suggested that the federal and state administrations make August 20th a public holiday for the country’s traditional religion adherents.
Ifalere Ifagbenro, the spokesperson for the International Council for Ifa Orisa religion under the auspices of Olu Isese Makoranwale Awodotun, told journalists in Ibadan that traditional religion worshippers in Nigeria have been marginalised in terms of benefits and respect.
Ifagbenro, the priest of the Oluwo lfa ldingbe temple, stated that it would be unfair if Muslims and Christians were granted six or seven days off each year without regard for traditional worshippers.
He said Muslims and Christians enjoy public holidays during their festivities for one or two days but the traditional religion adherents have no such opportunity to go on holiday during their own time.
Ifagbenro, who said that the oracle in January 29th 2022 revealed that the president elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would emerge, insisted that no amount of permutation can prevent his inauguration on May 29.
He said those calling for interim government will be put to shame.
According to him: “There will no interim government. Tinubu will still be the president, this has been revealed by the oracle since 29th January 2022 that despite the wars he will still be President.
“Our demands are: We want the same recognition to be given to us the way it is being given to Muslims and Christians. Both Muslims and Christians are enjoying holidays for six or seven days each in a year. And we are demanding our own holiday. The federal government should declare August 20th as our public holiday.”
“We want the president elect to include traditional religion adherents as part of the people that will offer prayer for him during the inauguration the way they are allowing Muslims and Christians to pray. He should be the first president to do such thing.”
“We want the board of traditional medicine to be functional and strengthened in all the states especially those from the south west.”
“We also condemned the burning of shrine by some people in Ile Ife. We want Adeleke to intervene in the matter. The government should provide adequate security for traditional religion adherents too. We are Nigerians, we pay our taxes. They should allow us practice our religion without fear or molestation”.
