A group under the aegis of Yoruba One Voice, has called on the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, to intervene and ensure that the Osun traditional worshippers, Efunsetan Abebi, Obalowu Jimoh and popular online presenter, Tani Olorun, who were detained are released.
The diaspora group made the call on Tuesday in a statement by its General Secretary, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, describing the arrest and continued detention of the trio by a Magistrate Court in Ilorin for 30 and 50 days respectively as travesty of justice and an act of intimidation that could lead to further crisis.
The Yoruba diaspora organization, accused the Kwara State Commissioner for Police, Ebun Adelesi, of acting on the script well written by some prominent figures in Ilorin, noting that there were strong indications that some people were behind the arrest and unlawful detention of the devotees.
YOV claimed that it is obvious that the Commissioner Police is allegedly doing everything that is possible to frustrate their release, observing that the circumstances surrounding the recent arrest and arraignment of Tantolorun showed that the Kwara State police authority had the backings of some religious leaders to trample upon the rights of the detained devotees.
“We are appealing to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq to intervene and ensure that those detained in respect of the Ilorin religious crisis were released.
“It is unfortunate that a Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin will order the remand of Yeye Osun Abebi, Obalowu Jimoh and Tantolorun for 30 and 50 days respectively without trial.
“It is nothing but a travesty of justice to arrest a person in Ibadan, Oyo State, and went ahead to arraign him in Ilorin Magistrate’s Court, Kwara State without anybody raising a voice.
“Tantolorun was alleged to have committed offences ranging from defamation of character and causing public disturbance. All the offences have their punishments under the law.
“However, the viral video of his arrest showed how the young man was portrayed as addicted criminal. And you wondered how Nigeria has lost everything to injustice and lack of fair play,” the group said.
YOV further accused Kwara State Police boss of biase in her disposition and the way she handled the case at hand, citing that on many occasions, these religion fanatics had denigrated the traditional institution, calling the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, and others uncomplimentary names.
“The Kwara State Commissioner of Police was biased in her disposition and the way she handled the case.
“There were times when these religion fanatics denigrate the traditional institution, calling the late Alaafin uncomplimentary names.
“When bigots invaded Ooni’s Palace in Ile Ife, pelting the palace with stones, the revered monarch never went to court.
“Professor Wole Soyinka, the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams and a few others had also been called several uncomplimentary names by these unknown religious bigots and bloggers, yet they didn’t sue or take legal actions against them.
“But the case of Tantolorun had showed the intolerance of some people and this can only lead to more crisis. So we are appealing to the Kwara State governor to intervene and ensure that those detained are released for them to enjoy their rights to freedom,” the Yoruba diaspora organization said.
“In spite of the huge security issues and challenges in Kwara State, it is ridiculous watching the Kwara State Commissioner for Police leading her men to the river at the outskirts of Ilorin to observe surveillance and also prevent Osun devotees from appeasing the river goddess.
“In June this year, over 100 people died in Kwara State when a vessel capsized and split in two in the Niger River near Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria.
“The sad incident occured when a boat carrying attendees of a wedding capsized and 108 people were confirmed dead in the boat mishap.
“These unfortunate incidents happened when nature is fighting back and when incidents like these occured, we need to appease nature and God the creator of heaven and earth is not against any religion. It is only the religious bigots and fanatics that use religion to foment trouble,” the group added.
Meanwhile, the Yoruba Diaspora group, Yoruba One Voice, has equally called on prominent Yoruba sons and daughters to join in the call for the release of the three people detained in respect of the religious crisis in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, warning those behind the crisis to stay away from actions that can stoke religious crisis in Yoruba land.
YOV said Nigeria is a secular nation, with the 1999 Constitution permitting the citizens to practice religion of their choice without fear or threat, noting that it was very unfortunate that some people could be so mean to use religion to create an avoidable crisis in Ilorin.
“Nigeria is a secular nation. It is very unfortunate that some people could be so mean to use religion to create avoidable crisis in Ilorin.
“There is need for every Nigerian to respect the secularity of the Nigerian nation, saying the Nigerian Constitution allows the citizens to practise religion of their choice without fear or threat,” the group said.
