Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State on Friday announced that the annual Isese Festival would hold in Iwo on August 20, 2023, saying the ban placed on traditionalists’ activities by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi cannot hold water and can never stand the test of time.
The traditionalists who were reacting to a viral video in circulation where Oluwo ordered that no Oro festival or sacrifice will take place in the town said, “What he said was just a rude joke, and maybe he was sleepy when he was talking, or maybe he was misquoted. I’m sure he wouldn’t have said that in his right senses.”
“Let us come in our hundreds. There is nobody that has the right to prevent us from exercising our fundamental human rights, and in as much as we are doing this, we should do it peacefully, orderly and be a model of the true Omoluabi that we are”.
President of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Dr Oluseyi Atanda, who spoke on behalf of his people, said, “Oluwo was no longer acting as a monarch with his actions, adding that he cannot stop people from performing their fundamental rights. ”
Atanda said: “I know for sure the Isese festival will come up in Iwo, and traditionalists will perform their normal fundamental human rights under Section 48 of the Nigeria Constitution.
“For me, he is not the Oluwo of Iwo because if he read his letter of appointment as Oluwo, he is the custodian of our culture, custom, and tradition. So, once he ceases to do that, he has gone against his letter of appointment.
Atanda called on the traditionalist to be peaceful and be a role model, warning miscreants to stay away on the day.
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