The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has urged Osun worshippers to respect the culture and values of the people of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The union which lamented the incursion of Osun worshipers and other adherents of African traditional religions into Ilorin on daily basis warned to “desist from the disrespect with which they are treating the Islamic religious sanctity of the people of the community, by steering clear of our homes and mosques.”
The national president of the IEDPU, Alhaji Aliyu Otta-Uthman, in a statement condemned the “increasingly mindless manners with which pagans arrogantly violate Islamic religious sensibilities, peculiarities and sensitivities of the people of Ilorin.”
He said the union was “heavily disturbed” by the consistent complaints from concerned members of the community on the repeatedly infuriating manners of idol worshippers parade residences, markets and mosques across Ilorin on the pretence of offering unsolicited prayers and alms begging.”
While appreciating the constitutional liberty guaranteed every citizen to practise the faith of his or her choice, the IEDPU president insisted that such a liberty is not without limitation as it would be wrong of anyone to the trespass religious sensibilities of others on the pretence of freedom of worship.
He added that the religious and cultural boundaries of every individual and community ought to be outlined and respected by others in the interest of peace.
Uthman-Otta, while calling on the constituted authorities to curtail the invasion of Muslim homes, markets and mosques within and across Ilorin by the idol worshippers, said that the timely heeding of the warning was important to prevent the needless eruption of religious crisis in the town.
He, however, appealed to the indigenes of the community to continue to exercise patience in the face of what he called “objectionable and despicable provocations” in the form of sacrifice prescriptions for Muslim residents.
He advised them to report such unguarded violators and violations to the law enforcement agencies and traditional leaders nearest to them for prompt actions.
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