In continuation of her efforts to get all strata of the society involved in its security efforts, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner For Information, Culture and Tourism, has held a meeting with Traditional Worshippers in Oyo State.
During the meeting, Dr Olatunbosun urged the traditionalists to partner with the government to ensure security and peaceful coexistence and also involve themselves in the joint effort to end insecurity in Oyo State.
He further assured the traditional worshippers that Governor Seyi Makinde had heard their pleas for a public holiday and was working on it.
His words, “I wish to inform you that work is ongoing on the approval of a special holiday for traditional worshippers in Oyo State, it is a long process that must go through legislation, executive assent and State gazette, the government is working on this and we need your continuous collaboration to make Oyo State more harmonious and attractive to investors.”
“We need to involve you our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the traditional religion in putting an end to insecurity in the State, we are using this opportunity to urge you to do all you can, including making spiritual appeasements, sacrifices to ensure and maintain peace in our State.”
“In the old, our forefathers had ways of overcoming insecurity, we need to go back and adopt some of these methods to make our land habitable, to make Oyo State the pride of other States and attract investors to bring their businesses, which in turn multiply employment opportunities and improve commercial activities.”
Governor Seyi Makinde’s Executive Assistant on Administration, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe was also at the event and he called for the traditionalists to continue their support for the current Oyo State Administration so that the good work started by the government would continue.
Speaking on behalf of the traditionalists, the Aare Isese of Oyo State, Aare Omikunmi Egbelade, the Chairman, Asa Orisa of Nigeria, Chief Oke Adejare and Oba Ela of Oyo State, Oba Ojebode Awoniran, jointly called on the State government to make funds available for the three major religion bodies so that they could combat the insecurity in Oyo State spiritually.
The trio urged Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure that his administration accords traditionalists more recognition by approving the public holiday they had requested and promised their staunch support for this administration.
Dr Olatunbosun has earlier met with artisans as part of efforts to mobilise the grassroots to see themselves as part of the state’s security architecture.