EXTRA: Oyo traditional worshippers stage protest, demand public holiday

Traditional worshippers in Oyo have called on the state government to dedicate public holidays for their festivals.

The religious adherents, under the umbrella of the traditional religious worshippers’ association, Oyo state, embarked on a peaceful protest on Tuesday, during which they lamented discrimination against their faith.

They marched through Oyo with placards bearing different inscriptions, some of which read: “Stop Discrimination against Traditional Religion”, and “Oyo is a Secular State”.

Fayemi Fakayode, general secretary of the association, who spoke on behalf of the worshippers, urged the state government to address their concerns.

“We are gathered here today to make our plight known to everybody in Oyo state. This peaceful protest is necessitated by the attitude of the Oyo state government to the practitioners of Yoruba traditional religion in this state,” he said.

“The present administration has refused to give the practitioners of Yoruba traditional religion in the state, audience despite seeking its attention through letters.

“As if the discrimination we are suffering is not enough, the state government has also deprived us of our constitutional right of having public holidays.

“We hereby implore the Muslim community, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and other stakeholders in this state, in the spirit of religious equity, to join us in our appeal to Oyo state government to stop her game of discrimination, neglect, relegation and frustration against practitioners of Yoruba traditional religions in Oyo state.”

Also speaking during the protest, Olukanmi Egbelade, the president-general, Isese foundation, pleaded with the state government to give adherents of traditional religion the recognition they deserve.

According to NAN, he called on the state to grant their request since there is freedom of religion in the nation’s Constitution.

“August 20 of every year should be given to us as public holiday. It will add value to the economy in terms of tourism and promotion of our cultural heritage. Through this, the government will generate more revenue,” Egbelade added.

Sunday Odukoya, executive assistant to the governor on security matters, who addressed the group, explained that the state recognised the position of traditional religion in the society.

He also said their request for public holidays would be passed to the governor.