ISESE DEVOTEES IN ILORIN ARE AS GOOD AS ENDANGERED SPECIES. BY CHIEF MALCOLM EMOKINIOVO OMIRHOBO.
The arrest, arraignment and remand of popular Ilorin Isese devotee and activist Adegbola Abdulazeez, a.k.a. Talọlọrun (Who is God) in Ilorin Kwara State is in line with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . My only worry however is the Nigerian the Police , Kwara State Command discriminatory enforcement the law .
The police have picked on alleged erring Isese devotees but have turned a blind eye to erring Muslims . Three Isese devotees, Abebi Efunsetan , Yakub Obalowu Jimoh and Talọlọrun are in jail for allegedly making inciting statements likely to lead to breach of public peace and break down of law and order while their Muslim counters who have done worst are free .
Sometime in July Yeye Ajesikemi Omolara, an Osun Priestess was prevented by the Emir of Ilorin from celebrating Isese and prominent Islamic clerics and youths from the Emir visited her house to intimidate and threaten her and police did nothing . In August some women Isese devotees were attacked by well known Muslim clerics at River Yemoja , Oko Olowu , Ilorin but the police made no arrest not to talk of prosecute anybody . The police coerced and stopped the Isese devotees from celebrating world Isese day at River Yemoja in Oko Olowo Ilorin but has allowed the Muslims to celebrate emirate day at the same venue on the same date .
With the level of discrimination, intimidation, coercion and repression going on against Isese devotees in Ilorin and environs in Kwara State, I cannot but conclude without fear of contradiction that unless the Isese devotees stand up and fight for their rights they are as good as endanger species .