The Olukere in-Council has cautioned the leader of Ansar-Ud Deen Muslim society in Ikere Ekiti, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulsalam against igniting religious disharmony in the community.
In a statement signed by the Olukere of Ikere, Odo-Oja in Ikere local government, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin said traditional festival in yoruba land had been in existence and celebrated since the days of our forefathers with Olosunta festival which remains a major festival in Ikere Ekiti is not an exemption.
Reacting to a purported sentimental video cooked and posted on the social media by the Muslim, Olukere and his council Chiefs described as disgusting such utterances could come out of his mouth, being an indigene of the town who knew the significance of the festival since childhood.
The statement berates Alhaji Babatunde for calling Olosunta an ‘’Oro rites’’, the same annual festival which his forefathers and people of his neighborhood celebrated on a yearly basis. Olosunta festival is not fetish, it is promotion of our town’s cultural heritage.
They warned him against castigating the customs, culture and tradition of the town with a view to causing any crisis through his bigoted preaching which was not in Islamic direction and comparing a conjured Odun Oba festival, wondering why he is sad that Olosunta festival is being widely embraced by relevant stakeholders in government and across board as it moves towards becoming a site of tourist attraction.
It reads ‘’preaching that incites religious disharmony, violence, hatred or discrimination is potentially illegal, and not welcomed in our community. It should be restricted. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the right to propagate it.
‘’There are Imams and muslim clerics in other towns in yoruba land, Ado,Ire-Ekiti, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Lagos where traditional festival are being practice, so why is Ikere an exemption? Must you be the person to come out and castigate our culture if not an attempt to cause community discomfort?
‘’Authentic Indigenes of Ikere Ekiti, know that Olosunta festival is the major festival being observed and celebrated from time immemorial, so anyone coming out to pitch his or her tent elsewhere because of selfishness, covetousness or personal gains will face the consequences from Allah.’’
The Olukere in council called on Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, the Director of State Security Services(DSS), Commissioner of Police, Muslim Society in Ikere and Ekiti State to call the Muslim leader to order to avoid brewing up of crisis in the community and that he should preach his own religion instead of castigating a widely embraced community festival and the traditional religion.
The statement concluded that Ikere Ekiti had been in existence for centuries with residents living happily and excelling in all facets without a religious violence and warned that any further statement, content or incitement will be taken as a deliberate attempt by the Muslim cleric to ignite fire in the community.
