Insecurity: Traditional worshipers to collaborate with Oyo State Government

The Oyo State Government and traditional worshipers have agreed to collaborate and invoke spiritual powers to fight the recent surge in insecurity in the state.

The resolution was part of the outcome of deliberations at a meeting on community and public enlightenement on security and peaceful coexistence, held on Wednesday, at the state Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, who convened the meeting on behalf of the government, expressed the joy of the state administration for the support given to the governor by the traditional worshippers since the last gubernatorial elections.

He said the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is working on the request of the traditional worshipers to be granted a public holiday. He however admitted that it was a long process that must go through legislation, executive assent and state gazette.

He also harped on the need to involve the traditionalists, among other religious bodies, in the effort to end insecurity in the state.

Olatunbosun said, “The government is working on this and we need your continuous collaboration to make Oyo state more harmonious and attractive to investors. We need to involve you our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the traditional religion in putting an end to insecurity in the state. We are using this opportunity to urge you to do all you can, including making spiritual appeasements and sacrifices to ensure and maintain peace in our state.

“In the old, our forefathers had ways of overcoming insecurity, we need to go back and adopt some of these methods to make our land habitable, to make Oyo state the pride of other states and attract investors to bring their businesses, which in turn will multiply employment opprtunities and improve commercial activities,” the Commissioner said.

Support to the government

The Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Administration, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, who was also at the event, called on the traditionalists to continue their support for the incumbent administration, so that the developmental projects embarked upon by the government would continue.

Ogedengbe, noted that since the arrival of Governor Makinde’s administration in Oyo State, so many projects, programmes and policies had been put in place to improve the welfare of the people and give support to the youths, the elderly and other sectors of the society.

Accord traditionalists more recognition

While speaking on behalf of the traditionalists, the Aare Isese of Oyo State, Aare Omikunmi Egbelade; the Chairman, Asa Orisa of Nigeria, Chief Oke Adejare and Oba Ela of Oyo State, Oba Ojebode Awoniran, called on the state government to make funds available for the three major religious bodies, for them to engage in special appeasement prayers and sacrifices.

They urged the administration to accord traditionalists more recognition and sense of belonging by approving the public holiday they have been clamoring for. They also promised their unalloyed support for Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

Meanwhile the state government had also met with the leadership of Ibadan masquerades to intimate them of the peaceful coexistence message of the state administration.

The emergency security consultative meeting on Egungun festival in Ibadan, which was at the behest of the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, who also doubles as the Executive Secretary of the State’s Security Trust Fund, Mr Fatai Owoseeni, had in attendance, the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Alabi; the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko and the Director General, Operation Burst, Col. Oladipo Ajibola (Rtd).

Also at the meeting was the Alaagba of Ibadan (leader of Egungun sect) and Chairmen of four local government areas in Ibadan.

Mr. Owoseni said the state government has provided more security personnel to monitor the activities of the masquerades and urged miscreants not to join the procession, to avoid arrest and prosecution.

Emmanuel Ukoh