AATRN Chief Tasks Govt On Traditional Religion

Foremost Traditionalist and Chairman, Association of African Traditional Religion, Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN), Chief Olusegun Elegushi, has renewed the call on federal and state governments to recognise traditional religion just as other religions, which he said are foreign.

Speaking during the recent  public hearing on the review of the country’s constitution, Elegushi, who is also  the Opemoluwa of Ikate Elegushi in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, lamented that traditional religion had long been neglected and relegated to the background by successive governments in Africa, while its believers were always looked upon with scorn, whereas full recognition was given to foreign religions.

According to him, most of the problems facing African countries, especially Nigeria are caused by activities of practitioners of these foreign religions, stressing that traditional religion practitioners were the true believers of the Almighty.

“Look at the issue of Boko Haram. Tell me, who are behind the group and what about the case of some leaders of religion acquiring private jets when there is so much poverty in the land?

“Most of these so called religion leaders even pay nurctunal visits to some of us, who they refer to as unbelievers,  to seek spiritual advice, yet they go about to condemn us, saying we are fetish,” he stated, urging the National Assembly to recognise traditional religion during the collation of suggestions and memoranda from other citizens of the country.

Opemoluwa also asked the National Assembly to work on a bill to compel government to declare 20 August of every year a public holiday for the celebration of African traditional religion.

According to him, several entreaties and representations made to successive governments, both federal and state, have been snubbed and wondered why traditional religion should not be given equal treatment as other religions, stressing that Africans had a way of worshiping God before foreigners forced their own religions on them.

He called on members of the National Assembly to continue to make laws that will change the country for the better.