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Group begs Tinubu to intervene in Muslims, Isese adherents crisis
The Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the crisis between some Muslim faithful and traditionalists over the celebration of Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara.
The president of ARSADIC, Ifagbenusola Atanda, while speaking at a news conference in Ile-Ife, Osun on Tuesday, begged the president to ensure adequate security protection for traditional religion adherents in the country.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to caution the Kwara state government from banning traditionalists from worshipping and celebrating their traditional festivals, for such action could lead to religious crisis.
“The traditional worshippers know their boundary not to throw offensives at other faiths.
“We will resist any attempt to trample on our rights to freedom of religion and association as spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution,” Atanda said.
He equally called on the Inspector-General of Police(I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, to prevent arbitrary arrest of Isese adherents by the police in Ilorin.
“We are calling on the IGP to investigate the recent arrest of some traditional worshippers in Ilorin by the police and the handling of the case, and sanction anybody that is culpable.
“The government should ensure equity among the three recognised religions of Christianity, Muslim and traditionalist,” he added.
Atanda condemned the recent clash between an Ilorin-based traditional worshipper, Yeye Omolara Ajesekemi and some Muslim faithful at the Yemoja River in the Oko Olowo area of the metropolis.
“Yeye Omolara Ajesekemi has our support at all times to practice her faith, the traditional religion which bonds all of us together,” he said.
According to him, the three religions worshippers have been living harmoniously in the state for years.
Atanda maintained that the group was ready to defend the rights of the traditional adherents, noting that traditional worshippers would not fold their arms and allow infringement on their fellow adherents.
He called on the state government, state house of assembly, royal fathers and other stakeholders to protect the interest of traditionalists in the state.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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