By John Odunjo
The Awise (Speaker) of the National Council of Iseselagba (traditional worshippers) in Ekiti State, Dauda Lawal, has said that adherents will celebrate Isese Fastival in Ekiti State on Sunday with prayers and merriments.
Lawal said, “Isese Day will be celebrated in Ekiti on Sunday. We are going to have prayers. We will pray for President Bola Tinubu and his government, we will pray for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the state government, all Ekiti obas and chiefs and as well everybody in general.
“It will be yet another moment for merriments and celebration,” the Awise said.
He, however, expressed belief that Ekiti State Government would still declare public holiday for the festivals like it’s counterparts in the Southwest.
Lawal said, “We still have the belief that the state government will declare the holiday because Ekiti State is part of South West.
“Isese Day is Sunday, we still have the belief because the governor is a very good and a listening governor. He is also a reliable and responsible governor.
The Awise had at a press conference recently, appealed to the federal and state governments to recognise traditionalists in the scheme of things in the country.
Lawal, who said, there were three religions in Nigeria – Christianity, Islamic and traditional – lamented that traditionalists were being neglected in appointment to positions in governments, appealing to governments “to extend the hand of fellowship being given to Christians and Muslims in the area of appointment to traditional worshippers.”
He had urged governments to consider public holiday for traditionalists to celebrate as being done for the celebrations of Christians and Muslims.
The Awise had said, “We appeal to the federal and state governments to declare every August 20 as public holiday for us also. That is a day that every traditionalist prays in their homes, makes sacrifices, propitiation and consultations throughout the country. There is a need for a public holiday for this so that we can have more time to pray and make effective use of the day”.
