Ifa worshipers in Ogun State have told Governor Dapo Abiodun to declare August 20 as a public holiday for traditionalists in the state.
This, the traditionalists said, would allow them to carry out ‘rituals’ in commemoration of the ‘2021 Isese Day’.
The Amona Egbe Ijo Orunmila Ifakoseunti, Ifalola Olalekan, while speaking on behalf of the worshippers at a special service lined up for the ‘Isese Day’ celebration, noted that worshipping of Ifa is not evil.
He urged Gov Abiodun to give importance to the worship of Ifa oracle in Ogun.
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Touching on the significance of the Isese Day festival, the Ifa priest emphasised that “traditional religion is the first religion authorised by God.”
He stressed that traditional religion deserves the same recognition and popularity as Christianity and Islam.
He stated, “We are still pleading to the government of this state to let them know that what we are doing is not bad. We need them to support us.
“We know that everything that we do, we need government’s support and we are still pleading with them.
“Even this one that we are doing, we are begging Governor Dapo Abiodun to give us holiday as done in other states. We in Ogun State, we are expecting our governor to declare public holiday for us.”
Asked what the public holiday would be used for,, Olalekan explained, “all that we are doing now is to pray for the world.
“This Ifa that we are doing, there is no bad thing in it. Look at what is going on in this country now, the way we need to pray for our country is what we are doing.
“We are praying, and that is what we still want to do on August 20 at Oke Aregba. We will come together to pray for peace. We are doing it across the world not just in Abeokuta or Ogun State alone.”
