Ìsèse Day: Kudos to southwest governors

The governors of the states in southwest – Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun – last week declared August 20 as holiday to commemorate ‘Isèse’ to give the traditional religionists in the states a sense of belonging like it’s usually done to their counterparts in other two popular religions.

The governors, in the circulars released through their spokespersons, made it known that they did this to create and maintain harmony and tolerance among people of different religious faiths as the governors believe that a society without cooperation among people of diverse religions sits on a keg of gunpowder.

In schools, both elementary and secondary levels, students are taught and are made to believe that unless a society allows religious tolerance to thrive, peace and tranquillity may elude that particular society. Of course the only way to demonstrate this tolerance is by practice and experience, the one the governors have publicly given a practical exhibition.

The young ones ought to be shown how tolerance works in society, and I believe the declaration of Ìsèse Day will undoubtedly achieve this. Giving people of different religious beliefs equal opportunity is a necessary and useful tool to achieve oneness among Nigerians, most especially during the time that our leaders need all people of miscellaneous opinions, political ideologies, religions and others to see one another as a people of one nation.

Apart from their fundamental human rights – rights to associate and to belong to any religion of their choices, traditionalists are also part of society. They pay taxes; obey laws; vote during elections and contribute to the development of the country. I do not see the reason they shouldn’t be recognized and accorded their dues. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Perhaps many do not know that celebrating ‘Ìsèse’ is tantamount and synonymous to preserving Yoruba culture/heritage. What is the essence of being a tribesman without knowledge about the history of one’s source? The most guaranteed way of remaining independent and being free from external control is to preserve one’s culture and make sure that the culture is not lost. The moment a race allows its culture to be relegated to the background, slavery is inevitable.

Once people are emptied of their language, mode of dressing, way of worship, native intelligence (the way they reason) – a nation/race is already annihilated and subjugated.

It is necessary for other constituted authorities to emulate the initiatives of the four governors with a view to creating an identity for Nigeria among the nations of the world.

•Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola,