WORK-FREE DAY FOR ISESE DAY: ANOTHER STATEMENT OF PEACE BUILDING FROM SANWO-OLU -- Prince Balogun

By Baralat Ololade

The Crown Prince of Isheri Olofin, Idris Balogun, has described the Work-free day for civil servants in Lagos State as another bold statement of peace building with religious tolerance from the Governor, Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu. The Legislative Aide to the Senate President and currently an Aspirant to the Executive Chairman's Seat of Egbe-Idimu LCDA, made this statement from his office folowing a release of information to that effect from the Governor's Office on Monday, August 19.

He also used the statement to celebrate with all sons and daughters of Odua land and to declare his affections for what the Isese Day is meant to be. According to him, the ultimate objective of Isese Day is the preservation of culture and tradition of a people, adding that it is also a means of unification of the people of Yoruba Nation across the world.

A release from the Special Adviser to the Governor on media, Gboyega Akosile, citing an internal circular from Office of the Head of Service, reportedly said "the Governor’s approval" to make the Isese Day a holiday for the government workers was for the traditional religion people to have opportunity to celebrate their festivals. He added that Governor Sanwo-Olu made this gesture to emphasise his “commitment to give necessary support to traditional institutions, as well as enhance the promotion of indigenous tradition by preserving cultural heritage". In making his complementary statement to this, Balogun said he understood the depth of what Mr. Governor has done in effort to "balance" religious interests in the state. Fondly called Oluomo Kaafata, Balogun said: "As a Crown Prince myself, I want to see this Governor Sanwo-Olu's policy matter as another rare gesture to come from his pool of wisdom. With the work-free day, he has made another bold statement in balancing the scale of delicate issue the matter of religion has always been. I know for fact that this will go a long way to further cement the envious close relationship that is now getting stronger between the state government and the custodians of our tradition and culture in the recent time.

“I would therefore like to use this opportunity to celebrate with all our monarchs -- I mean our kabiyesi, the chiefs and the sons and daughters of Yoruba Nation. As we must all know, to take pride in your culture and tradition is a boldness to assert the real person you are. The man dies the moment he has lost his culture because that is the only thing that connects every man to his origin"

He said contrary to the general opinion of the many ignorant, the celebration is not about fetish endeavours, but a day indigenous people use to connect with their roots.

He said further: "I am particularly happy that the government of 'Mr. Integrity' that our Governor is known to be has been giving voice to the people of indigenous religion in the past five years of his administration. This, as I know, has been giving more awareness to the fact that the celebration of culture and tradition is not about fetish activities, as many ignorant people are holding in belief. It is a way for people to remember their race, connect with their origin and return to their history in order that their younger generations shall have cause to build progressive knowledge that will maintain the continuity of their race".