The Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government of Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba has called on the government at all levels to re-introduce traditional legal systems in order to curb the spate of criminalities in the country.
The traditional ruler spoke at a symposium organized by International Council of Ifa Religion
held at the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe in commemoration of 10th anniversary of World Ifa/Orisa Festival and Pilgrimage, Oke-Igeti 2024.
Delivering his lecture-themed, “Our Culture, Our Life”, he identified insecurity as one of the major factors militating against the peace of the country which can be overcome if traditional legal system is put in place.
According to him, “Offenders in African societies are taboos which are punishment-drivers. Our traditional legal systems should be re-introduced to curb the high rate of criminality in our society.
“That is the way to go to ensure we have a sustainable peace in our communities.”
The monarch who escaped the attack launched by gunmen on him and other colleagues in January, commended the giant strides of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the Arts, Culture, and Tourism sector, through the commissioner, Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare.
He appealed to the governor to, “create an enabling environment to harness the socio-economic value of Annual Ifa Festival so that Ekiti will be like Mecca and Jerusalem.”
On his part, the Jagunmolu of Somolu Bariga III, Lagos State, Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timpson appealed to Nigerians to strive for liberty from the shackles and secrecy of Christianity and Islam, which he said were imposed by foreigners on the people.
He added that the biblical satan is not ‘Esu’, as it is simply a deity that paves the way and upholds truth for its worshipers.
He said, “Nothing has been ever as solid as this in terms of traditional cultures. This is something that you can take back home and say they are returning to the glorious days.
“We were brainwashed to believe in Christianity and Islam by the foreigners. The founders of this religion are not in any way a black man or an African man.
“Esu is not satan, we need to change our mind, we are not representatives of bad things, black coloured people are not representatives of bad things.”