The Council of Ulama (Islamic clerics) in Kwara State on Tuesday warned those planning to celebrate Isese festival in Ilorin, to stay away from the state.
The council issued a warning that the Ifa festival would not be permitted in any part of the Ilorin Emirate, which includes the Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South local government areas.
Justice Salihu Mohammed, the executive secretary of the council, announced the council’s position at a press conference in Ilorin.
Mohammed, a former Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal for the state of Kwara, spoke on behalf of Sheikh Basir Salihu, chairman of the Council of Ulama and Chief Imam of Ilorin.
The Secretary stated that Ilorin, the state capital of Kwara, has been known as a sanctuary of Islam for more than two centuries and is renowned for Islamic faith, practise, Spirituality, and Knowledge.
He further stated that the insistence of the youth wing of the International Council for Ifa Religion to hold their festival in Ilorin on 20th August 2023, posed a threat to the security of lives and property throughout the state.
“It is in the 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 would have a serious negative consequence on the peace of Kwara State.
“We are not unmindful 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, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari by individuals that are expected to know better, which are unfortunate, condemnable and inexcusable.
“We don’t think any individuals or group has anything to gain from destruction of the 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 tranquillity of the community as it is also been seen as 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 brake down of law and order.
“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 of their sinister and abominable move but warn that Ilorin have moved on.
“The Emirate might be a Yoruba-speaking city, 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 should allow peace 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 organisers are patriotic and well-meaning”, Mohammed said.
At the press conference were the Imam Gambari, Ajanasi Agba, Sheikh Yusuf Pakata, Professor Badmas Yusuf, two former grand Khadis, Justices Idris Haroon and Ola AbdulKadir; former president of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union , Alh AbdulHamid Adi; and representatives of Imams and Alfas from all the 16 local government areas of the state.
