….Warns Against “terrorism” on Non-muslims
Emir of Ilorin
The International Council for Ifa Religion, (ICIR) has expressed dissatisfaction over alleged roles played by the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari in cancellation of the planned traditional festival in Ilorin Kwara state capital.
President ICIR,Dr Popoola
The ICIR stated this in reaction to a recent religious crisis which occurred in the state where some clerics reportedly urged traditional worshippers to respect the culture and values of the people.
The Ifa religion body urged the Emir on peaceful religious coexistence in the state .
The ICIR called on the Kwara state government to initiate an interfaith dialogue for peaceful religious activities in the state.
The ICIR which is the global umbrella for all traditionalists reacted to the situation through a press statement signed by the President Dr. Solagbade Popoola. and made available to Newshereandthere.
The ICIR also expressed disapproval over the alleged restriction placed on the open practice of traditional religious activities in some parts of Ilorin.
A group of clerics, who claimed to have been sent by the Emir, reportedly stormed the home of an Osun Priestess Yeye Ajesikemi and warned her to limit her traditional religious activities within her immediate environment or face dire consequences.
The situation reportedly generated reactions from various groups .
The President of the ICIR
In a 7-point response to the crises, cautioned the Emir of Ilorin against” actions and comments that are capable of plunging the peaceful Ilorin city into a theatre of fierce violence ,consequent of subtle encouragement of Human Rights violation and religious intolerance”.
The Press statement titled: ‘Social Incitement Against Traditionalists To Forment Religious Violence In Ilorin: The Position of ICIR’ reads in part:
“ICIR considers as very unfortunate and ominous the invasion of the home of an Osun priestess in Ilorin, the stoppage of the planned celebration of the Aje Cultural Festival by the Emir of Ilorin and the open threat flagrantly and carelessly issued against the life of the poor woman, as well as all traditionalists in the listed areas of Ilorin by some islamic clerics who claimed to have been sent by the monarch.
“ICIR considers those event and action as potential predicates of an upcoming fatal religious and Human Rights violence; Kwara State Government is therefore advised to be very proactive.
“As an organization that promotes peace, humanity and love, ICIR wishes to condemn in totality the roles being directly played by the Emir of Ilorin and the ones being played indirectly through his islamic extremists.
“ICIR hereby calls on the Kwara State Government to urgently initiate an inter-faith dialogue to enable each religion know that Nigeria remains a secular state and that no religion or faith is superior to another.
“No respected monarch in Nigeria is supposed to encourage religious terrorism or religiously motivated harassment and threats. Therefore, the role of the Emir in impairing the freedom of one religion to the advantage of another, leaves much to be desired. It translates to religious intolerance which can snowball into a large scale war if not nipped in the bud. To this end, It is pertinent to make it clear to the Emir of Ilorin and all muslim leaders in the State that, according to the UN chatter of freedom, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
“This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community, with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”
The ICIR called on the Security Agencies in the State to arrest “those clerics who threatened and invaded the home of the Osun priestess. They should be brought arraigned and prosecuted for inciting religious violence and for terrorizing a fellow Nigerian citizen who was only exercising her freedom as enshrined in the Nigeria’s constitution among other documents”.
The ICIR therefore threatened “to use all legal means available to stop religious marginalization, discrimination and slavery in any part of Nigeria where there are traditionalists”. It added that.
“This is a way to strengthen the nation’s legal framework and deter a large scale religious”.