Traditionalists in the Ondo State Government have expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the government to declare a public holiday to celebrate their annual festival.
Only four states in the South-West — Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun — declared a holiday on August 20, 2023, for the Isese Festival, but Ondo and Ekiti states did not.
Speaking at the Ondo State Isese Cultural Day Celebration 2023 in Akure on Saturday, the leader of the group and Oba Asa Agabaye, Chief Temiadara Ariwajoye, said, “This is why we are appealing to the government of Ondo State to declare a public holiday on August 20 like some other states have done. We celebrate the Isese festival on August 20 every year in all Yoruba-speaking communities.
The day is set aside for individual traditional religious adherents to value our traditional religion and culture. Some people are looking at traditional religions as dirty ones. This should not be so because these are religions that were practised and valued by our forefathers.”
Echoing this sentiment, Oba Isese of Ondo State, Mr Monday Arogbase, stated that there had been a reawakening of people to traditional religion and culture, adding that it was the only sure way for life, sustenance, and peace.
