Sunday Okobi
The Isese Religious Association in Oyo, Oyo State, has cautioned members of the general public, together with bloggers, in opposition to unguarded utterances and retroactive actions that would create pointless stress and unhealthy developments among conventional establishments in Yorubaland.
The Chairman of the Isese Worshippers Committee and the Asiwaju Awo of Oyo, Chief Onifade Olanipekun, gave the warning at a press briefing held on the historical Palace in Oyo city.
Chief Olanipekun mentioned: “Our kings and conventional establishments signify vital features of our historical past, identification, customs, and collective heritage. They deserve accountable public engagement, constructive dialogue, and respect, even when opinions differ.
“The unity of Yoruba land is a shared responsibility. We must not allow unverified allegations, inflammatory publications, or the actions of a few individuals to create unnecessary divisions among our people and institutions.”
He said that the Isese Religion Association Oyo Alaafin, on behalf of the Isese neighborhood and Sàngó worshippers in Oyo, has categorically rejected allegations circulating on social media suggesting that the Isese neighborhood and Sàngó worshippers in Oyo have didn’t help His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I.
According to him, “The affiliation considers this allegation deceptive and a misrepresentation of the connection between the Isese neighborhood and the revered conventional establishment of the Alaafin of Oyo. We due to this fact, want to reassure His Imperial Majesty, the individuals of Oyo, and the general public of our continued dedication to the dignity, honour, and preservation of the paramount ruler’s throne, in addition to the cultural heritage and conventional values of Oyo Kingdom.
“The Isese neighborhood and Sàngó worshippers in Oyo want to state unequivocally that our help for the Alaafin’s throne didn’t start at the moment. Our dedication to this conventional establishment has been evident because the set up of His Imperial Majesty because the Alaafin of Oyo and stays firmly rooted in our reverence for our ancestors, our non secular heritage, and the enduring custom of our forefathers.
“In our religious and cultural understanding, the Alaafin’s throne holds profound historical and spiritual significance. Our reverence for the throne is inseparable from our responsibility to preserve the history, customs, traditions, and identity of Oyo Kingdom for present and future generations.”
While stating that the affiliation emphasizes that help for the Alaafin’s throne shouldn’t be measured solely by social media feedback, on-line confrontations, or public exchanges of insults, Chief Olanipekun famous that real dedication to a standard establishment is demonstrated by accountable conduct, constructive engagement, cultural preservation, peaceable advocacy, and sensible efforts to safeguard the values it represents.
He added: “While we recognise that people have the precise to specific their views responsibly, we strongly reject any try to make use of the identify of Isese faith as a justification for insulting conventional rulers, upsetting division, or undermining the cultural establishments of Yorubaland.
“We, due to this fact, urge members of the general public to tell apart between people’ conduct and the established place of the Isese neighborhood in Oyo. The actions or statements of people on social media mustn’t routinely be attributed to your entire Isese neighborhood or interpreted because the official place of our affiliation.
“We also appeal to anyone identifying as an Onísẹ̀ṣe, regardless of their state or place of residence, to exercise restraint and demonstrate respect when expressing opinions about the Alaafin, other traditional rulers, and the cultural institutions of Yorubaland.”
