By Babatunde Opoola
The Governors of the southwest states have declared today, Tuesday, August 20 as a public holiday to celebrate the year’s Isese Day.
In separate statements issued at their respective state capitals, the public holiday is coming in concurrence with the United Nations’ declaration of August 20 as World Traditional Religion Day.
In his statement, the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday through the Head of Service Lagos State said work would resume in all public offices including courts across the state on Wednesday to allow traditional worshippers to celebrate their day.
In a similar development, the Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun , through the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade revealed on Monday that the work-free in which is in line with the Abiodun-led administration’s firm belief in religious inclusivity will give traditional worshippers across the state the opportunity to commemorate their special day.
On his part, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State who approved the holiday last year, in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdul-Rasheed Aderibigbe, on Friday declared August 20th as public holiday to celebrate this year’s Isese day.
The indigenous religion of the Yoruba people, Isese, is dated as having begun as early as 500–300 B.C.E., according to existing archaeological evidence.
Isese, is also used to denote different kinds of festivals held by adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion or culture in Nigeria, Cuba, Brazil, the United States, Benin, and other countries.