Traditionalists in Ogun State have  appealed to the  President, Major General  Muhammad Buhari (retd.), to allow them tackle insecurity and poverty in the country through the traditional means.

The Oluwo Ifa of Egba, Chief Ifagbeminiyi Baoku, said this on Friday during the 2021 ‘Isese Day’ held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The ‘Isese Day’ is celebrated every  August 20 and was set aside as special worship day for traditional religion worshippers to celebrate their deities.  The Oluwo Ifa of Egbaland, during the celebration, argued that the crisis the country was facing was due to negligence of the guidelines given by the oracle.

Baoku said all it required for Nigeria to overcome its numerous challenges was for the oracles to be consulted and sacrifices offered.

 He said, “We have solutions to the problem facing the country. All we need to do is to consult the oracle and make necessary sacrifices.

“Government has been sidelining us; they don’t know we are the one that can help in solving the problems.

“Traditional religion is rooted in some guidelines that if you follow them diligently, we will not be facing problem we are facing.”

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The Oluwo Ifa, however, appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to declare August 20 as public holiday so as to be able to carry out ‘rituals’ in commemoration of the ‘Isese Day.’

While appealing to the governor to give importance to the worship of oracle in the state, Baoku said worshiping of Ifa was not evil.

Also, the Chairman of the Isese Parapo Egba, Ifaniaki Amosun, said the celebration was to bring traditionalists together.

He added, “All governmental portfolio in the country have been voted for by all the religions in the country but, after they have  been voted for, they start discriminating one religion from the others.

“Every year, the governor selects a particular day to go and worship with the Christians and also a day to worship with the Muslims, Why are we always exempted from this?

“There should also be a day selected to worship with us, the traditionalists as well. We want our government to look into this as well as the Minister of Culture to help us on this.”

Those present at the celebration included the Baba Isese of Egbaland, Prof. Ayinde Salami; the Ojubono of Egbaland, Chief Onifade Ogundele and some traditional rulers in the state.