The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), the global umbrella organization representing traditionalists, has made a significant announcement regarding their commitment to eradicating all forms of marginalization faced by their community in the country. In a press release circulated on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Solagbade Popoola, the president of ICIR, expressed profound condemnation for the recent assault on a female traditionalist in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara state. Dr. Popoola stressed that ICIR is staunchly dedicated to advocating for peace and fostering the overall development of the nation.
Dr. Popoola urgently called upon Governor Abdulrasaq Abdurahman of Kwara state to proactively implement measures that would effectively prevent religious conflicts within the region. He underscored the fact that both the nation’s constitution and the United Nations charter provide explicit guarantees of the right to practice one’s religion without fear of intimidation or persecution. Furthermore, Dr. Popoola explicitly stated that those responsible for the attack in Ilorin must be apprehended and prosecuted for inciting religious violence and subjecting a fellow Nigerian citizen to terror merely for exercising her constitutionally protected freedom.
The ICIR views the aforementioned incident and subsequent actions as potential catalysts for more severe instances of religious and human rights violations. Consequently, they strongly advised the Kwara State Government to take immediate and proactive steps to address the situation. As an organization committed to promoting peace, compassion, and love, the ICIR urgently appealed to the Kwara State Government to initiate an inter-faith dialogue. This dialogue would facilitate mutual understanding among various religious groups and reiterate the fundamental principle that Nigeria is a secular state where no religion or faith holds superiority over another.
Furthermore, the ICIR has firmly resolved to employ all available legal means at their disposal to combat religious marginalization, discrimination, and the subjugation of traditionalists throughout Nigeria. This proactive effort aims to fortify the nation’s legal framework and act as a deterrent against large-scale religious conflicts.
