MURIC Tackles Yoruba Traditionalists Over Oro Festivals' Curfews, "No More Infractions"
- The Muslim Right Concerned has stated that the Isese Day holiday granted to the Yoruba traditionalists is within their rights, but urged them to do away with lawlessness
- Traditionalists in the South West marked the Isese Day recently across the states in the region
- The Isese adherents have seized the opportunity to ask the federal government to declare every 21st and 22nd of August as national holidays for Isese
A rights organisation focusing on Muslims and Islam in Nigeria, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared that nothing is wrong with the Isese traditionalists to demand a public holiday on certain conditions.
Commenting on the matter, the General Secretary of MURIC, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, said his organisation believes that Isese believers requesting a public holiday to mark their religious festival is within their rights.
He, however, warned that the traditionalists must also respect the rights of others by putting an end to ritual killings for sacrifice and stopping the imposition of curfew to celebrate Oro rites.
Source: Twitter
Isese: MURIC’s stance on public holiday
Speaking with Legit.ng's correspondent, the General Secretary of MURIC, Mallam Agunbiade, said MURIC has no opposing views to the public holiday granted to the Isese believers in South-West Nigeria.
“When the Governors granted the Isese holiday with the support of some leaders in the South West, nobody, be it Christians or Muslims, opposed it. We told them frankly that MURIC supported but with conditions.
“It is obvious that Isesse or any other holiday that the government believes is worth granting poses no threat to us since it does not affect our own religion.”
Source: Twitter
Following some perceived misrepresentation of the MURIC’s position by a section of the media, Mallam Agunbiade said the organisation has no option but to issue a statement to show that the MURIC’s position is with some conditions attached.
"But the support came with a conditionality, namely, that traditionalists must also respect the rights of others by putting a stop to the declaration of illegal curfews, restricting the movements of others, violating the rights of women and the secret killing of human beings for ritual sacrifice.”
Mallam Agunbiade corroborated MURIC’s earlier statement expressing support for the public holiday in line with what the Quran allows as long as they do not oppose other people’s rights.
“Put more succinctly, there shall be no more illegal curfews, no more unlawful restrictions of people’s movements, particularly during Oro festivals, no more infractions on the rights of women, no more public flogging of innocent Nigerians by masquerades, no more killing of humans for ritual sacrifices, etc.
“It is noteworthy that Isese followers in Yorubaland are serial violators of people’s rights. They have always committed all the above crimes during their own festivals, whereas Muslims and Christians have never placed restrictions on the general public, either while worshipping or celebrating.
“While there have been several complaints lodged against the excesses of the traditionalists, the governments of the South West as well as the security agents, often ignored the complaints”, MURIC alleged.
Mallam Agunbiade stated that it is only fair for everyone to express their religious belief as enshrined in the constitution.
He said it amounts to selfishness to live and prevent others from living, noting that Islam teaches tolerance as against preventing others from practising their religion.
Isese Day: FG advised on public holiday
MURIC executive director advised the Nigerian government to exercise caution in granting Isese traditionalists a public holiday until they sign a peace accord to stop infringing upon other people's rights.
"We advise the Federal Government not to grant the demand for Isese Day until they provide a written commitment on the above serial infringements. Isese Day: to be or not to be? That is the question. The ball is in Isese’s court.”
“Chroniclers’ records are equally replete with internet links on attacks launched by the same Isese adherents on Christians in their churches as well as attacks on Muslims in their mosques.
“The records are there. Traditionalists have been a main source of concern on the probability of the outbreak of a major religious crisis in Yorubaland."
“We have shown our readiness to support their demand for Isese Day, the onus is on them to pledge to respect the fundamental human rights of others by stopping all their excesses.
“We therefore declare loud and clear that we support the demand of followers of traditional religion for their own holidays to be known as Isese Day. Their holiday has nothing to do with our religion. It does not disturb us and it does not make us uncomfortable in any way. It is their own day of happiness. We cannot stand in their way on this because we believe in the philosophy of ‘Live and let live.
Isese: States that declared Monday public holiday
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that four states in Southwest Nigeria have declared Monday, August 21, a work-free day to celebrate Isese Day 2023.
The southwestern states observing the special holiday are Lagos, Oyo, Osun, and Ogun. Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and his peers highlighted the importance of preserving Yoruba heritage and fostering unity and harmony among different religious groups.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng
Ridwan Kolawole (Oyo State Correspondent) Oyo state's regional correspondent Ridwan Kolawole has over a decade of journalism practice, covering politics, crimes/conflict, education, and social issues. He is a recipient of the Practical Action and UKaid travel grant for a tour of El Salvador on evidence-based crime prevention and control (2016). He is a serial winner of the Next Generation Social Science in Africa programme Fellowship of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC, New York—2019, 2020 and 2022). For passion and knowledge mobilisation, Ridwan practices journalism and teaches it at the University of Ibadan.
