Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has warned against religious conflict and confrontations in the state.
He was reacting to the altercation between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, and the Traditional Religious Worshippers Association of Nigeria on the celebration of Isese festival.
A statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the governor had deployed his Special Adviser on Security, Samuel Ojo, to Iwo for urgent interface with both sides.
Olawale noted that he was at the palace of the Oluwo where he met various stakeholders including a telephone conversation with the monarch who was out of town.
He also had interactions with some traditionalists who vowed to converge at Iwoland to challenge the traditional ruler’s ban on traditionalists from his domain.
“I came down on the directive of Mr Governor. I spoke with Kabiyesi, Oluwo and he promised to ensure peace and security though he is out of town. I interacted with some other traditional leaders not far from palace.
“The message is that peaceful co-existence is a must and any group that breaches the peace of the state will have security operatives to contend with.
“We have taken all necessary security precautions. The traditionalists are free to exercise their fundamental human rights. They must act within the bound of law. The Governor has also declared Monday 21st as a public holiday to commemorate the 2023 Isese Day Festival,” he said.
Reports said that trouble started when Oba Akanbi publicly stated that traditional worship was not welcome within Iwo town.
The traditional ruler also directed residents of the town to arrest and bring before him any individual observed carrying out any traditional religious activities.
In retaliation, the President of the Traditional Religious Worshippers Association of Nigeria, Dr Oluseyi Atanda, threatened that adherents of traditional religions would no longer pay obeisance or bow before the Oluwo.
