Traditional worshippers also deserve public holidays –Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has said traditional worshippers across the country also deserve to have public holidays. He noted that they were covered by the constitution like other religions practised in Nigeria.

He disclosed this on Saturday during the orientation and inauguration of traditional worshipers, under the aegis of ‘Ijo Babalawo Onifa of Egbaland’, held at the Valley View Government House in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Falana explained that under the Nigerian constitution, particularly section 38, there is freedom of religion of conscience.

He noted, “You have the right to worship God or not to worship God at all. You have the right to be a Christian, a Muslim or a traditionalist. But whatever you do, you must respect the rights of other citizens in the country.

“By virtue of Section 10 of the constitution, the government shall not adopt any religion as official religion. So, the government is required to be neutral while recognising the rights of each individual to worship the God they believe in. You are also entitled to public holidays just like those influenced by the Christians and Muslims.”

He, however, cautioned the traditionalists to instill respect by distancing themselves from criminal elements.

He added, “I have made it clear to the members of this organisation that as a lawyer, our experience is that when armed robbery suspects are arrested, they claim that they have been fortified by some Babalawo.


“When you arrest a ritual murder suspect, he also claims he has a Babalawo behind him. Ditto for armed robbers and other criminal elements in the society. I am, therefore, challenging the members of this organisation to as much as possible distance themselves from such criminal elements. That is the only way to be respected by the society and the government.”

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Does it mean that there are people who worship tradition?

Ogun, Ahmadioha and Sango shall be pleased with this submission

Yes

Traditional worshippers like us deserve public holidays too. I am unapologetic traditionalist.

So many people worship it...Even Most people are just pretending to be Christian or Muslim they are traditionalist...And 80% of our political leaders are using traditional power too....Africans are just hypocrite....most yahoo boys and kayamata ladies are also traditional ist

Blablamalala:
Does it mean that there are people who worship tradition?

Exactly, a time will come that Buddhist , Shintoist, Hinduism will demand for holiday too...

dollynnn:
We have more pressing issues to deal with

ENGINEERG:
So many people worship it...Even Most people are just pretending to be Christian or Muslim they are traditionalist...And 80% of our political leaders are using traditional power too....Africans are just hypocrite....most yahoo boys and kayamata ladies are also traditional ist

Hmm I see so people actually worship tradition. I thought people worship Sango, Ogun and so many more. Engineerg so how do we engineer a particular day of the year for all of them without ending up causing casala.

Supported 100%

They suppose have a body too, so they can resolve that

Blablamalala:


Hmm I see so people actually worship tradition. I thought people worship Sango, Ogun and so many more. Engineerg so how do we engineer a particular day of the year for all of them without ending up causing casala.

ENGINEERG:
They suppose have a body too, so they can resolve that

I rest my case.

It's right abt time
I totally support this, cos how will we forsake our culture and practices as a black man and African and give special treatment to a white man culture and practice yet we are one of the most backward nation's on Earth!!!

So pathetic

ENGINEERG:
Exactly, a time will come that Buddhist , Shintoist, Hinduism will demand for holiday too...

if it happens everyday will end up being a holiday.

There are probably traditions that have their days of worship on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.. So should all the days of the week be made a public holiday cos some people want to form inclusiveness?

Or maybe to be fair, there shouldn't be a public holiday at all so everyone will be happy