The Araba and Oluisese of Ibadanland, Ifalere Odegbemi Odegbola II has called on government at all levels to give Isese practitioners the needed support to allow them use atonement, propitiation to drive bandits and other terrorists out of Yorubaland.
Odegbola made the appeal at the annual Ifa and Orisa Festival organized by Odegbola Traditional Global Services Limited in Ibadan, asking that governments earmark monitored funds for Isese practitioners to perform rites aimed at ending attacks by criminal herdsmen, bandits and other criminal elements in Yorubaland.
“We are not happy with the current insecurity in Yorubaland,” Odegbola said.
“We pray to Olodumare to bring back alive those who are currently in captivity in Orire local government in Oyo state and other parts of the country. In Ibadanland, Araba, with the support of other individuals, has been making atonement and propitiation for this purpose. We do it every 17th day of the month. We can extend this to the entire Yorubaland with the support of government at all levels. Araba Agbaye, who I happen to be his vice, will take up take up the responsibility and coordinate all Araba and Oluwo in Yorubaland for that assignment.”
Also, delivering a lecture at the event, Oloye Ifaniyi Oyedele, known as Omo Ooye, spoke on the importance of education and knowledge acquisition.
He warned that partial knowledge can be dangerous, citing the Odu Ifa: “Oturupon Okaran,” in which apprentices of Orunmila created turmoil that Orunmila later resolved.
The festival convened traditional priests and community leaders to celebrate Yoruba spirituality and discuss cultural and social concerns in the region.