Islamic scholars under the banner of the Council of Ulama in Kwara State expressed their view on Tuesday, likening the forthcoming Isese festival celebration in Ilorin by the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) to an act of cultural terrorism.
The ICIR has designated August 20th for the Isese festival celebration in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
These scholars cautioned against the planned celebration of the Ifa festival in Ilorin and advised those intending to partake in it to reconsider their plans.
They emphatically stated that the Ifa festival, regardless of its pretext, would not be tolerated in any segment of the Ilorin emirate, which encompasses the local government areas of Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South.
Justice Salihu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the Council, conveyed this message during a well-attended press conference in Ilorin, held at the residence of the Council’s Chairman and Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Mohammed Bashir Salihu.
The event was attended by representatives of Imams and Alfas from all 16 local government areas of the state.
Justice Salihu Mohammed emphasized that the steadfast determination of the youth wing of the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) to hold their festival in Ilorin on August 20th, 2023, poses a threat to the security of both lives and property across the entire state.
“It is in light of this that we have found it extremely necessary to plead with the Kwara State government and all stakeholders to appeal to the ICIR and similar interest groups to stay away from Ilorin, as available evidence convinced us that the staging of the event in Ilorin woud have serious negative consequences for the peace of Kwara State.
“We are not mindful of the pillage of aspersions and insults mounted on our father, the Emir of Ilorin and chairman, Council of Emirs and Chiefs in Kwara State, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, by individuals that are expected to know better, which are unfortunate, condemnable, and inexcusable.
“We don’t think any individual or group has anything to gain from the destruction of harmonious coexistence. The people of Ilorin Emirate, particularly the Kwara State Council of Ulama, cannot be coerced by any person or group of persons claiming to be representing intellectualism or atheistic practices to destroy what our forefathers have fought for.
“As community and opinion leaders in our various places of abode, we are not unaware of the readiness of various youth groups never to allow the staging of the so-called Isese festival anywhere in Ilorin .
“To them, such activities would pollute the peace and tranquility of the community, as they are also seen as an invasion and an act of cultural imperialism.
We, as leaders, see merit in the position of the Muslim youths. We sincerely believe that it is unwise and wrong for non-residents of a community to forcefully impose imported thoughts or practices on their hosts. This is repugnant to natural justice, and it will certainly lead to the breakdown of law and order.”
The executive secretary of the Council of Ulama added, “We must make it abundantly clear that we are not against the celebration of isese festival. What is important to let the whole World know is that we, the people of Ilorin, have absolutely nothing to do with it. We understand the motive behind their sinister and abominable move but warn that Ilorin has moved on.
The Emirate might be a Yoruba speaking city, but it must be realized that its present culture is no longer that of Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, or any other, but purely an Islamic culture. We therefore advise that they allow peac to reign across Nigeria. All we are saying is that it should not be held where the celebrators and celebration would not be welcomed. Ilorin is certainly not among the places that should be considered for such a festival if the organizers are patriotic and well meaning”.
While appealing to Muslim youths and other stakeholders to exercise patience, Mohammed appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, ” to direct all the security agencies in the state to take note of this threat to the peace and security of the state. A stitch in time saves nine”.
