By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
Government at all levels in Nigeria have been urged to support the efforts of individual and groups to promote and elevate Nigerian culture, imploring them to accord traditional religion with appropriate legislation and recognition equivalent of Christianity and Islam.
The speakers, which included the traditional ruler of Osolo Kingdom, HRM. Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, a lecturer Dr. Fafolarin Agboola of Obafemi Awolowo University, a German tourist, Michael Ehrenberg and President of Ifa Olokun foundation, Dr. Fakayode Faluade bemoaned the neglect of traditional religion and inadequate promotion of culture by successful government in the country.
Speaking at the grand finale of 2016 Ifa Olokun Festival, held weekend at Sango- Ota, Ogun state, they appealed to government at all levels to embark on moves that would ensure the nation’s various customs and culture do not go into extinction.
In his speech, HR Oba Agbabiaka lamented that traditional religion such as “Ifa” and others had been neglected by both federal and state governments, with preference given to Christianity and Islam.
Pointing that this does not ensure equality, the monarch posited that equality recognition must be accorded the traditional religion and backed with the appropriate legislation by government.
He urged that public holidays must be granted traditional religion worshippers to celebrate their activities as usually granted Christians and Muslims during their festive period.
“Government needs to play active role in promoting elevation of our culture, especially traditional religion, they have neglected it n preference for Christianity and Islam and does not amount to equality. I am calling on them to also give public holidays to traditional worshippers to celebrate our culture like other religion”, the traditional ruler implored.
The German tourist, Ehrenberg, who said he was in the country to acquaint himself with the culture of the south- west, observed that the infiltration of the western culture has caused the neglected of the Yoruba culture.
While commending the Ifa Olokun foundation for the festival, he urged both the federal and state governments to support efforts of individual and groups at promoting the culture of every tribe in the country so that it does not go into extinction.
Dr. Agboola in his own word, urged all the black race to imbibe the “Ifa” deity, saying it is pathway to success and progress of the black race.
He specifically blamed parents for the decline and gradual extinction of the Nigerian custom and culture for their failure to speak their dialect with their children.
Agboola, who is the chairman of African Cultural Heritage Group, also called on the management of all university in the country to run a course of African cultural studies in order to promote it among Africans and others.
“Let me also correct the misconception about Ifa deity, it is not against any other religion or politics Just as politicians consult Islamic and Christian clerics before elections, so does the Ifa priest. There nothing evil about it, Ifa is the local type of science, it is used for knowledge and does the same job as the computer.
If our leaders have been honest and listen to Ifa priests predictions, this country would have been great like the advance countries of the world. So am urging our youths to disregard insinuations and embrace our culture so that it does not perish”, Agboola who lectures in the department of Agriculturaly Extension quipped.
In his welcome address, President of Ifa Olokun Foundation, Dr.Faluade appealed to the federal, states and adherents of Ifa religion to continually support the foundation to enable it continue to promote and elevate it to greater height.
He commended governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun for supporting traditional religion worshippers and granting them public holiday during their festive period.
