2023 Isese Day: Traditionalists eulogize Aregresola, recall how he championed Yoruba cultural rebirth

The 2023 Isese Festival did not go without drawing people’s attention
to its significance acknowledging and honouring the Yoruba Orisah as (deities) and ancestors.
Most traditional believers that were monitored speaking on various
radio programmes on Monday 21st the Isese day expressed their profound
gratitude to the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji
Aregbesola for his initiative at reviving the hitherto moribund Yoruba
cultures and tradition from going into extinction.
The National Publicity Secretary of Oodua People’s Congress New Era,
Comrade Sina Akinpelu who featured on a favourite Magazine-Radio Show on SPLASH 105.5 FM Ibadan, ‘Parrot hour on Radio’ recalled how Governor
Aregbesola initiated what is been adopted by most Governors in the South/West geopolitical zone of Nigeria today which is Isese day.
“All thanks must go to the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola who in 2013 declared a public holiday in commemoration of
the World Traditional Religion, Isese Day, today three other Governors
have toed same path which is an indication that the idea is now been
welcomed and will soon be embraced in the whole South/West geo-political zone of the country.” said Comrade Akinpelu.
The traditionalists since 2013 that a day had been set aside are not
resting on their oars as they spend each year’s Isese Festival to consolidate on their gains. They described Isese as the origin or
source of creation.
Speaking in the same vein, the founder of Eniaponle Foundation and CEO
of Afrikedge TV, Deacon Ashaolu Michael Adeboye also said many of
the critics of the then move saw it as an aberration to the norms of
government practice in Nigeria, with some Christians and Muslims
expressing divergent views on it.
“When the respected political icon, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola announced
in August 2013, that one day holiday has been set aside for traditionalists in the state to mark the annual Isese Day, tongues
wagged on the decision of a state government to commemorate the
cultural occasion of the so-called Idol worshippers.”
“Now other Governors in the Yoruba Speaking States have seen reason in
the vision of Aregbesola, but my suggestion on the way forward
is that leaders and adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion
should not scare people away from it, but package it in a way that it will be
attractive and more exportable,” said Hon Ashaolu of Eniaponle Foundation.