By Ademola Babalola
Religious groups consisting of Muslims, Christians and Oro worshipers have reportedly agreed that there would be modifications to the 17-day Oro festival which begins on September 22.
A source in Iseyin local government told The Punch on Monday.
He said the agreement was reached by delegates of the three major religious groups.
According to him, they have now agreed that the celebration be marked on September 22 being the first, seventh day and 17th day to worship their deity.
The truce followed a meeting convened by elders, princes and princesses of Iseyin land held at the palace of Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle, on Saturday.
At the meeting were elder Salaudeen Adelere; Alhaja Mistura Adeyeri; the Chief Imam of Iseyinland, Sheikh AbdulAkeem Olajori; the Chairman Christians Association of Nigeria, Iseyin local government branch, Rev. Christopher Olugbade and the Jagun Ilado of Iseyin agreed that the last court order issued by a high court in 2000 should be adhered to strictly for this year’s celebration.
It was unanimously agreed that Oro adherents are allowed to perform all their rites between 5:30pm and 5:00am on the first day, seventh day and 17th day while they maintain 8:00pm and 5:00am on other days.
At the meeting that had Basorun of Iseyin Land, Chief Oyegbenle Adelodun, Ikolaba of Iseyin land, Chief Ismail Odubiyi and other chiefs of Aseyin in attendance, the religious groups appealed to one another not to infringe on rights of anybody throughout the festive period.
The delegates agreed that adequate security should be provided by Aseyin-in-Council to forestall breakdown of law and order by any of the religious belief.
While lauding their understanding that fostered peaceful conduct of the meeting, Elder Olalere and generality of chiefs of Aseyin of Iseyin appealed that nobody should attack the Oro worshippers and vise versa.
They also warned Oro worshipers not to set out of their respective quarters unless it’s 5:30pm on the three days while assuring them that if they abide by the order, nobody would attack them and the town will be peaceful.
