Wale Jagun
The first Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs and the Ayangburen of lkorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, has called for more support for the traditional religion practitioners.
The revered monarch also charged the state government to declare August 20 of every year as public holiday for the celebration of ‘Isese’ Day.
He stated this during this year’s edition of the traditional celebration held at his palace on Friday, August 20, 2021.
‘lsese’ Day is an annual event during which traditionalists all over the country, under the aegis of the Association of African Traditional Religion Practitioners of Nigeria (AATREN), gather to celebrate African Culture and traditional religion.
AATREN in lkorodu, led by the Apena of lkorodu, Chief Kareem Ore, kicked off the celebration in the early hours of the day with traditionalists from over fifty different sects and groups embarking on ‘Woro’ procession across major parts of the community during which they performed rites for continue progress, development and peaceful atmosphere in lkorodu.
The traditionalists also offered prayers for continue success of Oba Shotobi’s reign and wellbeing of residents of the town and later converged on the Ayangbure palace to pay homage to Oba Shotobi and also offered prayers.
Oba Shotobi, speaking at the event, rejoiced with the traditionalists who were in their white attire on the occasion of the 2021 ‘lsese’ Day and prayed that they would live to witness more celebrations.
He also thanked them for the support they have been given him since ascending the Ayangburen throne and assured them that he will also continue to support them always and will never disappoint them.
“I rejoice with all the traditionalists in lkorodu for witnessing another ‘lsese’ Day celebration. I pray that we will all live to witness more of it in good health. I am very happy to see you all here today.
“Let me also thank you for your support for me since ascending this throne five years ago. You were the ones who made me an Oba. Throughout my stay in Ipebi (seclusion), you were the one that stood by me and took me through the rites and process that made me the Ayangburen.
“I thank you so much and l promise that l will never disappoint you. I am always proud of you and I will continue to identify with you and everything that you do because you are the custodians of lkorodu tradition”.
“When we were faced with the challenges of ‘Badoo’ in lkorodu, it was not the government that helped us to overcome the challenges, it was our traditionalists that ensured that the menace became history. I really appreciate their support during that period”, Oba Shotobi said.
Oba Shotobi commended the Lagos State government for its support for the traditional religion and ‘lsese’ Day celebration and urged his colleagues across the state to compliment the government's efforts in giving support to the traditional religion and its practitioners in their respective domains.
“I also want to thank the Lagos State government for their support for traditional religion and our traditionalists. They are aware of what we are doing here today. They maintain constant communication with the leadership of the AATREN in the state and they have been subsidising their programmes.
“I know that Obas in the state have been supporting the traditional religion practitioners as custodians of tradition in their respective domains. I want them to sustain such support as a way of complimenting government’s efforts in preserving traditional religion”
Oba Shotoni also reiterated the call for the declaration of August 20 as a public holiday for the celebration of the ‘Isese’ Day by the traditionalists.
Many of the traditionalists that also spoke with THE IMPACT also enjoined the Lagos State Government to recognize the day for the celebration of African culture and tradition and make it a public holiday.
Joining the Ayangbure in celebrating the day with the traditionalists in Ikorodu were traditional Chiefs and dignitaries.
The celebration also witnessed presentation of the cash gift and traditional drink (Seaman Aromatic Schnapp) to each of the groups and sects, courtesy of Oba Shotobi.
