Traditional worshippers have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect the interest of all religions in the country as enshrined in the Constitution.
The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), in an open letter to the President decried the alleged Harrasment and intimidation of their members by the dominant religion beliefs in Nigeria .
The President, ICIR (Worldwide),Oluwo Solagbade Popoola (ficssmn) in the letter reminded Mr President of the Section 10 of the Constitution of Nigeria which unequivocally states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as a State Religion.”
The ICIR argued that setting aside certain days as public holidays for christians and muslims to celebrate their special festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan Eid al-Adha, Mawlid etc. Granting holidays to two religions, out of many, in a religiously diversified nation like Nigeria, is a contradiction to the secular character of Nigeria as established and recognised by our constitution.
According to him ” this provision prohibits the establishment of a state religion and affirms the secular nature of the Nigerian state.
It stated that ” Section 42 of the Nigeria’s constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion and states that no Nigerian can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion or belief”
The body called on the President to, as matter of fairness and equity “establish a legal framework that recognizes and protects the rights of individuals to practice traditional religions. This should also protect sacred sites and access to such places.
” It should also allow religious ceremonies and rituals, and ensure that traditional religious practitioners are not subjected to discrimination or persecution. Nigeria Police and other Security Agencies should be authorized to arrest and prosecute anyone who tries to harass or intimidate any individual with the view preventing them from free exercise of their freedom of religion or right to affirm their individual belief whether in public or in private.
“Your Excellency is drawn your attention to Section 38 of the constitution which clearly states that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This includes the freedom to manifest and practice any religion or belief of one’s choice, either individually or in a community, subject to certain limitations to protect public safety, order, morality, or the rights of others.
“Bearing the above in mind, it may interest Your Excellency to know that traditional religion as well as its practitioners have continued to suffer persecutions and harassment in the hands of the two dorminant religions in Nigeria which are Islam and Christianity. Successive administrations of government across all tiers have also continued to discriminate to a large extent against traditional religions.
“The case of intimidation and harassment of a practitioner of traditional religion by the royal envoy of the Emir of Ilorin is a recent and fresh example. Like messengers of death, some muslims leaders had besieged the home of an Osun Priestess and threatened her never to practice her faith within specified areas of Ilorin.
“Up till this moment, the Nigerian Police and the Kwara State Government are yet to take any reasonable action that could deter such illegality. Yet Section 42 of the Nigeria’s constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion and states that no Nigerian can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion or belief.
“This provision also emphasizes the equality of all citizens irrespective of their religious affiliation”