The Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, on Wednesday, urged the Lagos State Government to officially recognise and declare August 20 as Isese Day holiday in the state.
The traditional rulers, who spoke at the inauguration of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs for another tenure of five years, said it had become important for the state government to recognise August 20 as Isese Day in the spirit of democracy and freedom of religion.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Onikate of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Saheed Elegushi, said, “It is a demand that has been on the table of the governor for so long.
“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.”
Oba Elegushi added that since the Christians and Muslims have their holidays, “it is our right as traditionalists to have our own day as well, which is August 20.”
The Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeniyi, who affirmed that Oba Elegushi spoke for the council, stressed that Isese Day was to traditionalists what Christmas and Eid-el-Kabir were to Christians and Muslims, respectively.
Earlier, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his speech when inaugurating the council, urged the traditional rulers to continue to partner with the state government to ensure the security of lives and property of citizens in their respective domains.
