The Christian Association of Nigeria’s leadership in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has stated that the five-hour curfew that the followers of the Obatala deity imposed on Wednesday between 2p.m and 7p.m is unlawful.
The curfew was allegedly imposed to allow unrestricted passage for the Oro procession, which was scheduled to travel through specific sections of Ife.
Residents of the designated zones, through which the Oro procession will pass, were urged to observe the curfew and remain indoors for the sake of Ile-Ife, according to a statement signed by Oba Isoro O. Dada, the Obalesu Obatala Agbaiye.
Dada made the following announcement in part: “This is a special announcement for all dwellers of Ile-Ife, Oro Owa-Ilare festival that will commence on the 27th Wednesday, 2024.” The message was captioned “Special announcement from the house of Obatala to all Muslims and dwellers in Ile-Ife.”
“We thus declare that every Ile-Ife resident should stay indoors near these areas: Igbotapa, Ajamopo, Gbodo, Ita Olopo, Oja-Ife, Ita Oranfe, Enuwa Square, Ooni Ilare, Sabo Road 7, and Olumogbe Street. The Oro will begin precisely at 2 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.
“For the welfare of Ile-Ife, it will be extremely excellent if every resident in these places stated above complies with this instruction.”
In the past, there has been a chilly relationship between Muslims and Oro believers in Ile-Ife that frequently turned violent.
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, violent altercations broke out between five worshippers and an Imam, Abdullateef Adediran at the Ilare Mosque in Ile-Ife. The Oro devotees were walking through the neighborhood where the mosque is situated.
In response to the most recent curfew imposed by Obatala followers, the chairman of the Ile-Ife Christian Association (CAN) Rev. Canon Sam Onitiju stated, “As the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ile-Ife, we have been alerted to a press release issued by Obalesu Dada on behalf of Obatala traditional worshippers regarding the restriction of illegal movement and the requirement that people remain indoors in certain areas of lle-Ife on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 between 2pm and 7pm.
“We wish to draw the attention of Christians and Ile-ife residents to the events that took place during a peace conference that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, hosted in his palace on May 15, 2023, with religious authorities and the commissioner of police for Osun State.
“The Christians led by Rev. Canon Dr. Sam Leye Onitiju, the Muslims led by Chief Imam Alhaji Abdul Semiy Abdul Hammed, and the traditionalists led by Obalesu Dada himself, Kabiyesi stressed the need for religious tolerance and cautioned against limiting people’s freedom of movement during the day.
“Considering the aforementioned, we kindly request that all Christians participate in Holy Week services in churches across the land of Ife without worrying about being harassed or attacked by an individual or group of individuals.”
He urged the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police to make sure that the town’s tranquility remained intact, stressing that people should not be harassed by traditionalists on the pretext of religious rituals.
