Ilorin Festival: Stop Interfering in Religious Affairs, Soyinka Warned

Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has been warned to stop dabbling into issues that does not concern him, rather he should as an elderly person ensure that issues bothering on faith and tradition of the people are well respected and not denegrated.

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) made this remarks in a Press Statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim.

It should be recalled that His Royal Highness the Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR had ordered the cancellation 3-day fetish traditional worship called Ajesikemi Olokun Orisha & Egbe Festival in Ilorin which Eminent Leaders and Scholars of Islamic City said must not hold.

According to the Media Group, Soyinka’s call for dialogue with the Organizer of the traditional worship which is alien to the custom, culture and faith of the people is to say the least an insult to the people of Ilorin Emirate and reverred Traditional Institution of Ilorin people who are predominantly muslims.

The Group maintained that Soyinka has always provided an opinion that are at variance with the people’s faiths wondering what concerns him about religious issue since he is an atheist and free-thinker!

MMWG recalled that the issue of hijab that occured at different times and years in Lagos, Osun and Kwara States, Prof. Soyinka commented and all his comments were against the spirit of the Constitution and extant laws adding that Muslims eventually won the battle up to Supreme Court level.

The Group therefore warned Prof. Wole Soyinka to always respect himself and steer clear of issues that does not concern him adding that his behaviour is unbecoming of an academic of high integrity