Traditional Worshippers Demand a Voice at National Conference

Adherents of traditional African religions have decried their exclusion by the Federal Government from the upcoming National Conference.

The President of the International Council for Ifa (African) Religion, Prof. Idowu Odeyemi, at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday demanded a minimum of three slots for indigenous religious worshippers at the conference, after stating that their exclusion from the national dialogue would “haunt the country in many years to come.”

He stated that Nigeria was under pressure by the foreign media to give the impression that there were only Muslims and Christians in the country, but that this image was wrong and damaging.

“To consciously alienate and ignore this massive African religious class is totally unacceptable. All practitioners of African Traditional Religion in Nigeria demand and should be given three slots to the national conference to represent and articulate the interests of African religion and spirituality.”

Odeyemi stated that their group had the backing of the former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Wande Abimbola; the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, Otunba Gani Adams and millions of practitioners of traditional religion.

He regretted that the government only accorded respect and recognition to the other religions, which came to Nigeria long after the full establishment of traditional religion.