• Emir sues for peace
The Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC) has called on Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to protect its members from harassment in practicing their faith.
It said religious fundamentalism must not be encouraged in any form and in any part of the country.
A statement yesterday in Osogbo, by ARSADIC President, Dr Ifagbenusola Atanda, said the Council has been monitoring developments in Ilorin, where one of its members, Ajesekemi, an Osun devotee and priestess, was harassed and intimidated over her faith.
Atanda said it was wrong for any group or individual to threaten Yeye Ajesekemi and stop her from holding Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The statement reads: “As long as we, the traditional religion adherents, know our boundary not to throw offensives at other faiths, we will resist any attempt to trample on our rights to freedom of religion and association as spelt out in the Constitution.
“We will not allow extremists in any guise deny us our God-given rights and supported by the laws of Nigeria as a secular state. We are quite aware that Ilorin, Kwara State, is an integral part of Nigeria and we ready to defend our faith. Yeye Omolara Ajesekemi has our support at all times to practice her faith, the traditional religion, which bonds all of us together.
“I, therefore, call for prompt intervention of the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and security agencies in the state.”
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has appealed to indigenes of Ilorin Emirate to close communication in the ongoing controversies following Prof. WOle Soyinka’s letter on the Isese festival.
A statement by his spokesman, Abdulazeez Arowona, noted that peace and tranquillity are the major recipes required for the promotion of harmony in the state.
It reads: “Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has ordered that nobody should further express their anger on the Isese festival and Prof. Wole Soyinka’s saga under any guise. This is in the interest of peaceful co-existence and harmonious working environment in Nigeria.”
The monarch appealed to residents to continue to live together in peace, and restrain from temptations that may arise from cancellation of the Isese festival.
He also thanked sons and daughters, as well as friends of the Emirate, for the show of love and concern towards the preservation of the rich tradition and cultural heritage of Ilorin.