Group Petitions Makinde Over Religious Crisis In Oyo Community

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has been urged by some indigenes of Iseyin under the platform of Ebedi Frontliners, to intervene in what they termed ‘a brewing religious crisis’ in Iseyin town before it leads to loss of lives and vandalization of properties.

The group stated this in a letter which was forwarded to Governor Makinde on Tuesday in Ibadan, the state capital.

They referred to a court summon in which Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Ganiy Adekunle, the traditional council of Iseyin local government and the leader of Oro sect in Iseyin were respondents.

In the summon, some Muslims were seeking an injunction to stop the celebration of Oro Festival which had been slated for the 22nd of September 2019.

The Iseyin town is known for the celebration of Oro festival and during this event, women are not to be seen outside to avoid seeing the Oro masquerade.

The spokesperson of the group, Segun Fasasi, stated that the group heard that the Muslims approached the court seeking an injunction to halt the Oro festival.

The group added that the move by the Muslims is an attempt to create a crisis in the town.

The Ebedi Frontliners charged the Oyo Governor to attend to the situation and put all security agencies on the alert to avert breakdown of law and order.

Fasasi said, “Our attention was called to a brewing religious crisis in Iseyin community recently as an Islamic religious sect was said to have approached a court in Ibadan, the State capital to get an injunction for the purpose of preventing the adherents of Oro to celebrate their annual Oro festival.”

“Sir, we heard this action was premised on the fact that the Oro traditional worshippers have picked 22nd of September as the day that was sanctioned by the Royal father, Oba Abd-Ganiy Adekunle, Aseyin of Iseyin and other stakeholders, regarding security issues.”

“We write as a socio-political organization that believes in peace as a pre-requisite for growth and social development and as well share the lofty idea that Your Excellency’s administration holds high and sacred so that Oyo State will not go back to the days of the dark.”

“It is a known fact that Nigeria is a secular State and allows for freedom of religion, but in the years past, the people of the community have witnessed violent attacks by some religious zealots who claimed to be fighting for Islam against the Oro worshipers, resulting in loss of lives and valuable properties.”

“We will be happy if your administration makes haste to pre-empt any plan to cause havoc in the community, which may lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties as our people have been enjoying relative peace since the emergence of your administration,” Fasasi said.

The group pledged their loyalty to the progress of the State which they said was being witnessed by all and sundry in the areas of education, commerce and quality healthcare delivery.