Under the watchful gaze of dedicated personnel from Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Authority, Department of State Services, and local military units, an extraordinary scene unfolded at the Yemoja River in the Oko Olowo area of Ilorin, Kwara State. Their mission? To ensure the symphony of peace remained unbroken.
As the curtain rose on this tableau, it was revealed that these guardians of harmony were summoned to avert a clash between followers of traditional religion, known as Isese, and Islamic preachers. A dance of intentions was in progress, with Islamic preachers pledging to stand their ground against the traditional worshippers’ plans to celebrate Isese Day by the riverside.
Yet, amidst the anticipation, the leading roles were vacant. The traditional worshipers and the Islamic adherents were nowhere in sight as our correspondent gazed upon the riverbank, searching for a glimpse of the impending festivities.
Unbeknownst to the awaiting crowd, the Isese festival celebration took its majestic form at Shao, a traditional haven nestled within Moro Local Government Area.
Gathering at the river’s edge, Mrs. Ebun Adelesi, the state Commissioner of Police and conductor of this symphony, spoke of their duty to safeguard the rhythm of peace and protect the harmonious notes of lives and properties.
“Our mission is clear: to nurture peace, to respect the melody of each individual’s fundamental rights. Our presence safeguards the harmony of the state. Kwara State is a harmony itself,” she declared.
The echoes of unity continued to resonate as Chief Mobolaji Ajakitipa, the Oba Etutu of Shao, expressed his devotion to the annual celebration of his ancestral faith. He recounted the legacy of Shao, an ancient town of Yoruba tradition that predates the founding of Ilorin, and celebrated the Isese festival with the pride of one who upholds tradition.
Commending the symphony’s conductor, the police commissioner, for orchestrating a safeguarding performance, Chief Ajakitipa looked to the future. He appealed to the Kwara State Government for a harmonious chord: recognition for traditional religion worshippers and the harmonizing cadence of a holiday for the annual Isese festival, mirroring the traditions of Yoruba-speaking states.
This symphony’s crescendo was heralded by the Kwara State Police Command’s earlier caution against the planned Isese festival on August 20. Their harmony, they explained, was disrupted by security concerns, leading to a different rhythm of events. Additionally, the International Council of Ifa/Orisa Religions harmonized their announcement with the postponement of the Isese festival celebration in the Kwara state capital, Ilorin.
Yet, in the wings, the Kwara State Council of Ulama (Islamic clerics) issued their own note of harmony. They resolutely conveyed that the Ilorin Emirate’s composition, spanning Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South LGAs, would not allow the Ifa festival in any form.
In this symphony of diverse beliefs and the harmonizing efforts of security, the melodies of unity and mutual respect resonate, carrying the promise of a harmonious future. 🎶🕊️