Mr. Adesina Olatunji-Aresa, former Secretary-General, International Council for Ifa Religion, has called on the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to use his office to ensure the promotion of traditional religions in Nigeria.
Oltunji-Aresa, president of Ile Aresa International, a charitable organisation that promotes African culture and tradition, made the call during an interview in Ibadan.
He noted that Aregbesola, as governor of Osun State, was the first governor in the South-West to declare a public holiday for traditional religion worshippers to celebrate their festival.
He urged the minister to use his position as Minister of Interior to influence the Federal Government to give due recognition to traditional religions.
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He lamented the non-involvement of traditional religion worshippers in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 by the Federal Government despite ongoing efforts by traditional healers and herbalists to find solution to the pandemic.
The Ifa priest maintained that although Nigeria is a secular state, the government only lay emphasise on Christianity and Islam while giving guidelines on how to reopen worship places, without mentioning traditional religions.
Olatunji-Aresa said it was unfortunate that “those in government know that traditional healing and local herbs are effective, but have refused to encourage and promote them,” adding, “it is high time our governments promoted our traditional religions.”
