Famous Ifa priest Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon has urged the federal and state governments to warn the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and local Islamic clerics from taking any actions that would violate their right to freedom of association.
Elebuibon’s response was prompted by the decision to cancel the Isese festival in Ilorin, following a situation where a practitioner of traditional beliefs, Ajesikemi Omolara, received threats from an Islamic group allegedly supported by the Emir. This led to the traditional festival being called off.
During a discussion with journalists on Monday, Elebuibon contended that certain areas of Ilorin are considered Yoruba territory and possess connections to traditional religious practises. The individual put forth the contention that Ilorin does not possess an exclusively Arab community.
“It is disheartening that a ruler that was supposed to embrace all religions, would go to the extent of preventing people of other faith from practising their religion.
“We have government at the federal and state levels. They owe us the duty of protection and I find it strange that governments have now relinquished that duty to a ruler who is biased against a particular religion and prevented the adherents from practising their religion. He and those clerics must be cautioned,” Elebuibon said.
According to him, what the Islamic group did was against the law.
“Their action is against the law but our governments seem helpless. They better wake up to their responsibilities. It is not fair to suppress a religion for another.”
In the meantime, the Emir of Ilorin ordered Ilorin Emirate residents to put down their weapons and maintain open communication in the continuing conflicts brought on by the Isese festival on Monday.
The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had earlier denounced the role played by the Emir in pressuring traditionalists to postpone the Isese celebration. The Emir also instructed locals of the five local government areas that made up the Ilorin Emirate Council to stop reacting to him.
According to a statement from his spokesperson Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the emir underlined that maintaining peace and tranquilly were essential ingredients for fostering harmony in the state.
“His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has ordered that nobody should further express their anger on the Isese festival and Prof Wole Soyinka saga under any guide any longer in the interest of peaceful coexistence and harmonious working environment in Nigeria,” the statement said.
