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Tag: Isese

  • Isese

    Isese

    That four South West states — Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun — marked August 20 as common “Isese” Day for 2024 has got to be the greatest win for native rights all through Nigerian history.

    As much as that might sound as some hyperbole, it’s probably true of repressed native rights.  Adherents of Christianity and Islam, often loud in their relentless proselytizing, often pretend they are the only faiths in town.  Yet, they are not only foreign faiths but also noisy “guests” of a quiet “landlord” — a quiet landlord that must be barred and banned from own land!

    So, until Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as Osun governor, himself a devout Muslim, started this campaign to officially recognize the rights of faiths, alien or native, in August 2013, (naming 20 August 2014 as Osun’s first “Isese” Day), no one ever thought it was anything important.

    Worse, it appeared worse than heresy: a pesky matter in the official orthodoxy of religious rights.  Indeed, a few but deep and vibrating voices in the media, projecting own limited worldview on such matters, latched onto fashionable bigotry.  Out came quaky commentaries — and thunderous editorials — to condemn such “trivialities” and “distractions” as native faith rights.

    Why, a “civil war” had earlier broken out between media champions of Christianity and Islam, when Osun in 2012 (again, under Aregbesola) made Hijra — the Islamic new year — a public holiday, with relentless growling about an alleged “Islamization” of that state: comical to be sure. 

    Both would later unite, and turned ballistic, to thumb down “Isese” as a public holiday, for its mass of long-suffering adherents.  Bullies!

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    But thank God the Ogbeni held firm — not only on “Isese” but also on the old Awolowo party anthem, which he proposed as a South West regional anthem to rouse Yoruba patriotic consciousness, in a federal and united democratic Nigeria. 

    Both have been adopted — “Isese” by four states: what are Ondo and Ekiti waiting for — don’t they have “Isese” adherents within their borders?  The anthem, by the South West Governors Forum, which on June 11, approved it as regional anthem, indeed fit to galvanize the Yoruba to patriotic action, in a strong and united federal Nigeria.

    The triumph of the “Isese” initiative is another pointer to the cornerstone of spirituality — and “Isese” hallmarks authentic Yoruba (and African) spirituality — in the scheme of things. 

    Besides, “rights” don’t start and end with the so-called “peaceful protests”, which everyone — the “ human rights” denizens that levy it and the nervy government that often resists it — realizes is only a thin line between codified rights and romantic anarchy. 

    How the last bout of “peaceful protests” snowballed into an orgy of well-planned chaos is all too fresh, even with Amnesty International (AI) continuing to bury its head in a cloud of wilful self-denial over the obvious and the ugly.

    “Rights” need not bring out the worst in us all.  It need not lead to torching neighbours’ store houses to settle old economic scores; or smash and crack skulls to show who is lord of the political manor.

    Indeed, “rights” can — indeed, should — reinforce our common humanity and sense of self-worth.  That’s the message from “Isese” Day 2024, from these four South West states.  It’s a welcome flower of rights, in a federal, democratic Nigeria.

  • Sanwo-Olu hailed for Isese Day celebration

    Sanwo-Olu hailed for Isese Day celebration

    Former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Chieftaincy and Traditional Matters, Prince Bayo Osiyemi, has praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for keeping his promise of setting aside August 20 to celebrate Isese Day.

    Prince Osiyemi said he was glad to have been the megaphone through which the governor broke the good news to the people of Lagos State in 2020.

    According to Osiyemi, Isese l’agba is the popular refrain among believers of our tradition and culture and that cannot be for nothing.

    He said: “Before the advent of imported religions, our people coveted their traditional religions so much so that they attributed many of the fortunes their forebears bequeathed on their generations to the efficacy of these religions. No modern-day Christian or Muslim can claim that his or her lineage had never benefitted from our cultural heritage.”

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    Osiyemi stressed that no society should neglect its traditional heritage or condemn everything in our traditional cultures and values

    He said: “The truth of the matter is that a society that neglects to elevate and promote its tradition and cultural heritage will inevitably lose its identity as well as the economic benefits inherent in our traditional values.

    “It is no doubt true that some of our traditional practitioners and herbalists had introduced dubious aspects to the practice in modern times, but that is not to condemn the good work out of our tradition and culture wholesale. That will be akin to condemning pharmaceutical productions off-handedly just because of the application of overdose in patients.

    “Government having done what is good and realistic in this matter, it behoves on the leaderships of our traditional and cultural institutions to help sanitise their practice and rid unscrupulous and mindless ones among them of the harmful dangers they are coveting.”

  • Sanwo-Olu commends Isese adherents

    Sanwo-Olu commends Isese adherents

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has commended the people of the south west,  particularly traditional rulers and traditional religious worshippers, for upholding the cultural heritage of the Yoruba.

    The governor made the commendation in his statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, to commemorate the “Isese” Day in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Sanwo-Olu, who is also the chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum, also commended his colleagues in the south-western parts of the country for declaring public holiday in their respective states for the celebration of the day.

    “The world has become a global village with an attendant result in multiculturalism, the Yoruba have unique culture and traditions that must be preserved for the future generations.

    “I commend all traditional rulers and people of the south-western part of the country for upholding these cultural and traditional virtues of the Yoruba race.

    Read Also: Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ogun declare today as public holiday to celebrate Isese Day

    “I charge you all to use the occasion of today’s celebrations to remind themselves of the importance of the Yoruba Omoluabi ethos.

    “These include tolerance, hospitality, peaceful co-existence among ourselves, different religious groups and our neighbours,” he said.

    The governor noted that these values must continue to be the hallmark of the Yoruba people.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos state government on Monday, declared Tuesday, Aug. 20 as public holiday to allow residents and Yoruba people to actively participate in the “Isese” day celebration.

    “Isese Day” celebrates the Yoruba traditions and religion in a display of culture and spirituality.

    It is usually celebrated on every Aug. 20 every year as a day for traditional worshipers to celebrate their deities.
    (NAN)

  • Isese practitioner Fakayode seeks more recognition for traditional religion

    Isese practitioner Fakayode seeks more recognition for traditional religion

    An Isese practitioner Dr. Fayemi Fakayode has demanded more recognition for traditional religion, saying government and monarchs in Yorubaland must worship only traditional gods.

    Fakayode, who is the President, International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), claimed that only traditional religion can bring succour to the ailing economy and boost the nation’s recognition abroad.

    Speaking at the 2024/2025 World Ifa Festival, held at the World Ifa Temple, Oke-Itase, Ile Ife, Osun State, Fakayode thanked the Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo Governments for declaring August 20th of every year as public holiday for traditional worshippers, urging them to do more in defending traditional religion and leverage on its global respect to promote its tourism potentials.

    He called on traditional rulers in Yoruba land to respect their crowns and make it a matter of compulsion to practice Isese, which according him is the religion of their fore-bearers to regain the lost glory of the tribe.

    He commended the Ooni of Ife for supporting Yoruba, saying “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.

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    “We implore the Abrahamic religion practitioners among them to spare us their condemnation, for condemning Isese is condemning their own thrones. It is our advice that any already enthroned Oba who does not want to be associated with our tradition should abdicate the throne. Also, all Abrahamic Princes are advised to think twice before vying for the stool that is surely not in consonance with their religious affinity.

    “We also use this medium to, as usual, appreciate the government, especially that of Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos for the support so far, especially for declaring August 20th as public holiday for traditional religion. It is our hope that other States will do the needful this year.

    “We implore the government to concentrate more on the traditional religion, which is capable of adding value to the economy of the land through tourism. Our sacred religious sites can generate revenue for the States and federal government through a well-coordinated pilgrimage programme.

    “Importantly, for fraud-free administration, we recommend the use of traditional religion objects of worship for oath of office in Nigeria, if that can be done, we are sure that this nation will change for better.”

  • Thus counsels Isese

    Thus counsels Isese

    • By Wole Soyinka

    Isese has come, but not gone. We salute all those – human rights activists, community leaders, affronted citizens, advocates of equity and all –  but the state governors most especially – who have taken history to task and boldly formalized a level praying ground for the exploration of the infinite, the realm of intuitions which exists across pedigree, borders, class, politics, social mechanisms and cultures. The battle is not over. There are those who feel compelled to indulge their obsessions through the cooption of public symbols and educational institutions. We must never weary of instructing them, of offering them gleanings from the threshing floor of millenia old and new transformative ideas, rescue them from centuries of false historicism, baseless fears, and will to dominate and/or flaunt an inglorious past of enslavement

    This notation of “ISESE” on the calendar of faiths in any nation is a vital stage in the human incessant yearning for even a semblance of SPIRITUAL TRUTH. It enacts an impartial order, inserts a critical building block in the architecture of universal enlightenment. Hopefully such formal recognition will be read as the commencement of an era of spiritual accommodation, a lesson in humility, not a trigger for sterile contestation and renewed demonization of others among overlapping theocratic realms. The Prototype of such realms, in any case, remain forever closed to any absolute, incontestable mortal certitude. Dogma, says ISESE, however lavishly endowed, or brutally sustained, can never substitute for the Unknowable.

    ISESE has always been with humanity, and will remain for all eternity. The celebration of ISESE is not defined by an annual observance only, but as a presiding awareness, a daily companion that offers its essence for humanity’s harmonized co-existence. It transcends religion, since it calls to what is innate to all sentient beings, those strange advocates of Freedom who, paradoxically, nonetheless persist in fashioning chains for themselves and for their fellow beings. ISESE liberates. It is an expression of the collective human spirit, its enveloping, compassionate accommodation of human experience, yet one that strives towards the seemingly inaccessible, intuitively felt as an elevating dimension of one’s material estate.  ISESE is a Path, not a destination, a seizure yet a pursuit of what we experience as the inner quest for ultimate illumination. ISESE does not conclude. neither does it exclude. It does not diminish, rather, it enlarges. It teaches community to embrace, explore, and adjust.  It defends the right to believe or not believe, acknowledges the limitless variety of phenomena, both what is provable and non-provable. ISESE promotes, as foundational consciousness, gratitude for, and sanctity of human life. It repudiates the supremacist claim of any structure of spirituality over another. Content with the pursuit of inner serenity, which is the climax of, and extraction from celebration, ISESE does not seek to exercise power. All true religions know that celebration is prelude to community equilibrium.

    Read Also: Isese: Probe Kwara CP to prevent crisis, Traditionalists’ Council urges IGP

    Preoccupied with the larger, imponderable questions of existence, ISESE does not thereby neglect the particularized. Thus, it concerns itself with the fate of every unit that makes up community, and is innately bound to engage in questions such as: “What is a youth, by name MUBARAK BALA doing in prison?  Recall, ISESE upholds the right to believe or not believe, thus the question is not trite, it is not academic, but is instantly catapulted from the particularized to the universal podium of Justice. How does a nation define itself, when a youth can be sentenced to waste his years of mental prowess in prison, for no crime beyond the right to believe or not believe?  ISESE speaks to individual and collective conscience. ISESE calls on those misguided forgers of human chains to respond to a plain question: why is that youth, and undoubtedly numerous others, wasting away in hidden dungeons, for crimes that the very protocols of nation definition, known as the Constitution do not recognize. ISESE asks, WHEN is Justice? And what is that ensign worth, if it fails to fulfill the primary condition of social accreditation which is – Justice!

    Justice, for which another name is Equity, walks hand in

  • Isese: Probe Kwara CP to prevent crisis, Traditionalists’ Council urges IGP

    Isese: Probe Kwara CP to prevent crisis, Traditionalists’ Council urges IGP

    The parent body of all traditionalist groups and associations in Africa, Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC) has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to probe the Commissioner of Police in Kwara over the crisis between Osun devotees and Islamic fateful in the state.

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    The president of the council, Dr Ifagbenusola Atanda, after a meeting held in Ile-Ife, cautioned that extremists should be prevented from causing further unrest and harassment to his members.

    His words: “The IG should probe and investigate the CP. We opined that the CP was biased in handling the matter. If he is found wanting, he should be punished and removed from the state. We are not happy with the way the CP handled the matter. We are calling the attention of the IG over the matter before it snowballs into a major crisis in the state.

  • Isese Assembly cautions Makinde, Oyo-Mesi on Alaafin’s selection

    Isese Assembly cautions Makinde, Oyo-Mesi on Alaafin’s selection

    Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Assembly on Thursday cautioned Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and kingmakers in Oyo town “Oyo-Mesi” not to choose someone that is not ready to identify himself with Isese religion as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

    They said the duo should choose an Alaafin that will not only openly identify with Yoruba Indigenous religion like late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi but also protect interests of the practitioners and other religions.

    This follows backlashes on Isese worshippers in Kwara State and Iwoland leading to arrest of two practioners.

    A statement by Isese Assembly National Coordinator, Barr. Aderemi Ifáòleèpin and Secretary-General, Ifagbenuola Popoola, stated that most credible candidate that will be ready to identfy with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion should be pick to become the new Oyo monarch. 

    The statement urged Makinde and Oyo-Mesi to speed up selection process to fill the vacant throne of Alaafin, saying whoever mounts the throne will be globally-revered among other traditional rulers in Nigeria if their advice is adhere to.

    “We implore the Ọ̀yọ́-Mèsì, who are the Kingmakers to make sure that whoever that is selected or chosen to be the next Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́ must be Ìṣẹ̀ṣe inclined cum Ìṣẹ̀ṣe lover; and who is ready to openly identify with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a Yorùbá Indigenous Religion.”

    “That the appointing authority who is the Governor of Ọ̀yọ́ State should graciously appoint any eminently qualified candidate that will not only openly identify with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion, but, also help to promote the unique traditional practices in Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin.”

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    “Further, we implore whoever wishes to be next Aláàfin to also have in mind that, the stool is meant for someone who will always respect and cherish Ìṣẹ̀ṣe.”

    Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Assembly however thank Oyo State government and kingmakers in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government, for arriving at a seamless process in picking new Aseyin of Iseyin on Monday.

    It urged the Aseyin-designate, Prince Sefiu Olawale Oyebola to embrace Yoruba traditional practices, which according to them, is the only culture, tradition and belief system that embodies equality and peaceful cohabitation among residents.

  • Lagos champions religious tolerance with Isese Day recognition

    Lagos champions religious tolerance with Isese Day recognition

    In Nigeria, religion is a passionate topic. Of course, given the extent that religion, particularly Islam and Christianity, have shaped and are still shaping the country, it shouldn’t be surprising. Many schools were founded by pioneers of these faiths. Governments declare holidays during Islamic and Christian festivals. It even sponsors Muslims and Christians on religious pilgrimage to some Holy lands. Often, when religious balance is being discussed, the choice is between Islam and Christianity.

    To many Nigerians, Indigenous traditional religions are invisible. Where they are seen, many consider them evil. Yet, across the country, there exist worshippers of traditional religions. Sadly, over the years, adherents of traditional religions have been subjugated, denigrated and fought against by the majority of Christians and Muslims. Call it a tyranny of the two big religions and you won’t be wrong.

    While this situation is not restricted to Nigeria, it was to balance such as it exists all over the world that the United Nations declared every August 20 as African Traditional Religion (ATR) Day. This year, Lagos has braved a new frontier to officially recognise the ATR Day which is popularly called ‘Isese’ Day amongst the Yoruba. While the southwest states of Ogun, Oyo and Osun have also declared public holidays to celebrate the festival, the case of Lagos leading this drive is important. The place of Lagos as a microcosm of Nigeria in terms of cultural diversity, population and unity is undeniable.

    But this sentiment is not the same across the country as some recent happenings in Kwara have brought this religious tyranny to national light. In July, an Osun priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun Omolara Olatunji, announced a three-day traditional event aimed at celebrating certain Yoruba deities to be held in Ilorin, the state capital. But a Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, went to her house to warn her against it. Also, the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) had planned to celebrate its Isese festival on August 20 in Ilorin. But various Islamic clusters kicked against it, vowing to ensure the festival does not hold.

    And just last week, the Council of Ulama (Islamic clerics) in Kwara State warned anyone from celebrating Isese Day in any part of the Ilorin Emirate. Speaking at a press conference behalf of the chairman of the Council of Ulama and Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Bashir Salihu, the executive secretary of the council, Justice Salihu Mohammed, said Ifa Festival would not be allowed in Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West and Ilorin South local government areas which make up Ilorin Emirate. Present at the event were Imam Gambari, Ajanasi Agba, Sheikh Yusuf Pakata, Professor Badmas Yusuf, two former  grand Khadis, Justices Idris Haroon and Ola AbdulKadir; former president of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alh AbdulHamid Adi; and representatives of Imams and Alfas from all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Harping on how Islam has been practised in Ilorin for over 200 years, Mohammed opined that it was a security “threat” and act of “cultural imperialism” for the ICIR to hold their festival in Ilorin on August 20th 2023. He also asked the Kwara State government to restrain the youths from practising any traditional religion.

    “As community and opinion leaders in our various places of abode, we are not unaware of the readiness of various youth groups never to allow the staging of the so called ‘isese’  festival anywhere in Ilorin,” Mohammed said.

    “To them, such activities would pollute the peace and tranquillity of the community as it is also seen as an invasion and an act of cultural imperialism.

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    “We as leaders, see merit in the position of the Muslim youths. We sincerely believe that it is unwise and  wrong for non-residents of a community to forcefully impose imported thoughts or practices on their hosts .This is repugnant to natural justice and it will certainly lead to the breakdown of law and order.”

    “We must make it abundantly clear that we are not against the celebration of Isese festival. What  is important to let the whole World  know is that we , the people of Ilorin, have absolutely nothing to do with it. We understand the motive of their sinister and abominable move but warn that Ilorin have moved on.

    “The Emirate might be a Yoruba speaking city, it must be realised that its present culture is no longer that of Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe or any other, but purely an Islamic culture.  We therefore advise that they should allow peace to reign across Nigeria. All we are saying is that it should not be held where the celebrators and celebration would not be welcomed. Ilorin is certainly not among the places that should be considered for such a festival  if the organisers are patriotic  and well-meaning.”

    Reacting to the situation, the Kwara State Police Command had advised ICIR to relocate celebration of the Isese festival to another state, citing security reports against it being held in Kwara.

    “They (ICIR)  have been advised to relocate their celebration to another state pending a favourable security situation in the state,” said the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement.

    It is interesting to note that the police could have offered the traditionalists protection but did not. Eventually, ICIR was browbeaten to cancel its proposed celebration of Isese Day in Kwara.

    In a country that is secular, it is shameful what played out in Kwara where traditionalists are prevented from practising their faith. It is also condemnable that the Kwara State government is maintaining a deathly silence over the matter. If this is not religious bullying by the Kwara Muslims, I wonder what it is.

    However, the case is different in Lagos. Traditionalists had also been clamouring for some sort of official recognition and in July, it was reported in the news that the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs wanted the state to officially recognise and declare August 20 as Isese Day holiday in the state.

    “It is a demand that has been on the table of the governor for so long,” said the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Oba Saheed Elegushi, on behalf of the council.

    “We, the traditional institution, celebrate the yearly Isese Day on August 20, and we’ve written to the (Lagos State) House of Assembly, which is still pending before them. We should have our holiday on August 20 to celebrate Isese Day. That’s why we are begging the governor for approval because we’re in a democracy, and we should be able to practise our religion, irrespective of who we are.”

    As Lagos continues to show, it is more productive to promote aspects of religion that embrace peace and harmony rather than focus on the differences and hence divisive aspects of religion. With mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation, different religions can thrive side by side. After all, they largely preach the same thing – love for God and love for fellow men.

    With Lagos now officially recognising the day, it would bring about a sense of belonging to traditionalists. Folks in Kwara and similar states can learn from Lagos how to allow people practice whatever religion they like as long as it does not contravene the law or harm others.

    Once again, it’s kudos to Lagos for championing the rights of traditionalists.

    •Akinyele writes from Ikorodu

  • Isese: Court summons IGP over detained Kwara traditionalists

    Isese: Court summons IGP over detained Kwara traditionalists

    The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), officials of the Kwara State Police Command and Kwara State Government, following the continued detention of some traditionalists in Kwara State.

    Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered them to appear and show cause why the traditionalists – Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. a.k.a. Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha, a.k.a. lya Osun and other traditional worshippers – should not be unconditionally released.

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    The judge made the order while granting a motion ex parte application filed by an activist-lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje.

    Others affected by the order are the Registered Trustees of Council of Ulama (Islamic Clerics); Justice Salihu Mohammed (Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama); Sheikh (Dr.) Mohammad Bashir Saliu (Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of Council of Ulama); Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidi; Kwara State Magistrates’ Court, Ilorin, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State, listed as third to nine respondents.

    Ogungbeje in the fundamental rights enforcement suit is seeking eight reliefs and declarations.

    The first to eight reliefs and declarations include an interim order restraining the respondents from “arresting, detaining, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, interfering, disrupting, disturbing and further violating the rights to freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience of traditional religion adherents and worshippers and faithful” concerning “the planned Isese cultural festival to be celebrated in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festival” in pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    “An order of the court compelling the first and second respondents to provide adequate and maximum security arrangement and cover for traditional religion adherents and faithful, pursuant to the rights to freedom of ‘religion, conscience and thoughts” as it relates to the planned Isese cultural festival.

    “An interim order of the court compelling the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State) to unconditionally release Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. a.k.a. Tani Olorun and Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha. a.k.a. lya Osun from their custody forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

    Justice Aluko held: “Upon listening to the counsel who is the applicant in this suit, reliefs four, five, six and seven are grantable, and are thereby granted.”

    The judge ordered that hearing notices be issued to all respondents to appear before the court and show cause while other reliefs one, two, three and eight, should not be granted.

    He adjourned further hearing till September 9.

  • Southwest states and Isese Day

    Southwest states and Isese Day

    Last Monday’s commemoration of Isese Day by the four Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti is a pointer to the secularity of the Yoruba and a reminder to the rest of Nigeria of the region’s determination to build a civic culture devoid of the discrimination and intolerance that have wreaked sectarian havoc on many states. Until now, until Ilorin in Kwara State rode roughshod over the constitution to elevate a religion above the others and make value judgement on the acceptability or otherwise of other faiths, Isese Day had been practiced and observed for decades without acrimony. Isese is an agglomeration of the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba-speaking people of West Africa and other parts of the world, including Cuba, Brazil and the United States.

    The constitution accords recognition to all faiths. And for centuries, all faiths, whether Christianity, Islam or traditional religions, have co-existed, sometimes with frictions, but often without the law enforcement agencies taking sides. But the constitution is now being deliberately and consciously diminished by some states and traditional chiefs in favour of some chosen faiths. This may explain why the preparations for marking Isese Day in Ilorin, Kwara State, became highly contentious in the past few weeks to the point of eliciting heated exchange between Professor Wole Soyinka, who advocates freedom of religion, and the Ilorin traditional chieftaincy institution which increasingly and disturbingly sees Ilorin as a theocracy, contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

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    Since Isese encapsulates Yoruba culture and tradition, it also embodies their indigenous festivals. Despite their protests, Ilorin is and remains a Yoruba city, regardless of which faith commands the largest following. But the police inexplicably took sides in the controversy over whether Isese Day should be celebrated in Ilorin or not, in fact up to the depressing point of arresting, detaining and arraigning one Adegbola Abdulazeez, an Isese devotee and activist, who was arrested in Ibadan and arraigned in Ilorin for allegedly insulting the Emir of Ilorin. Presidents and governors in Nigeria have been insulted and ridiculed, with ex-president Goodluck Jonathan once describing himself as the most insulted Nigerian president ever. Yet, no arrests were made. But in a clear subversion of the constitution, and an indication of the servility and misguidedness of the police, law enforcement agents are being dragged into fighting the constitution and laying the foundation for future religious disturbances.

    This is the point the Southwest states made when they officially enabled the celebration of Isese Day in the region. Though the region is the most secular part of Nigeria, it is not immune to the continuing denudation of secularism in the country.  That it declared last Monday Isese Day and made it a work-free day deserves commendation, especially in the face of other parts of the country that continue to erode secularism in favour of religious fundamentalism. The Southwest’s high degree of tolerance has made the region cosmopolitan, fairly progressive, peaceful, and economically more advanced than the rest of the country. Tolerance and religious freedom have made the region a magnet for the rest of the country. But, apart from the Ilorin chink in the region’s armour, a few groups are beginning to rise up in the region, dedicated to politicising the faiths of elected and appointed officials. If these incursions are not checked, it is a matter of time before the cancer of religious intolerance and political retardation erode the gains and progress the region has made for centuries.

    The four Southwest states marked Isese Day, not because the governors and Houses of Assembly are devotees of the festival or that they substantially care about Yoruba religious practices, but because they needed to underscore the beauty of the principles and values that have shaped their progressive and secular worldview for centuries. They should be applauded for spontaneously rising in defence of their culture. The region also rose in defence of Isese because its leaders and chiefs, not to say the leadership of other faiths, recognise that Yoruba culture and tradition have been the distinguishing and catalysing factor in their progress. The region has a track record of promoting worthy men and women, irrespective of their faiths, into prominent positions in the society, including in the judiciary, legislature and executive, sometimes electing governors and deputy governors of same faith. In protecting Isese, the region invariably indicates its preparedness to protect its identity in a world that is increasingly nationalistic.

    The Southwest must not allow extraneous factors diminish and neutralise who they are as a people. As the fountainhead of the Yoruba culture, the region must take care not to be outdone by Cuba and Brazil or any other secondary proponent of their tradition. It must also not be timid in projecting Yoruba culture in a Nigeria increasingly given to intolerance and cultural diminution. It must recognise from a study of history that the great empires of the world – Greek, Roman, Pax Brittanica, Pax Americana, etc. – left indelible marks on the world. If those empires had not been bold in exporting and projecting their cultures and values, their global influence would have long ago been attenuated and superceded by more resilient and powerful cultures. Indeed, the Southwest must impress on the federal government the urgency of reining in a police force that seems to have lost its way in defending the constitution.