Olokun Festival Foundation, OFF, on Tuesday, urged the Kwara State Magistrate Court to release Yeye Osun, Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha and Obalowu Jimoh.
The Yoruba socio-cultural organization renewed the call for the release of the two, insisting that those behind the crisis in Ilorin are agents of destruction.
In a statement made available to the media by the Public Relations Officer, Olajide Odumosu, the Yoruba socio-cultural organization stated the need to respect the secularity of the nation, saying the Nigerian Constitution allows the citizens to practice the religion of their choices without fear or threat.
OFFâs statement came against the backdrop of the magistrate court order remanding Yeye Osun Efunsetan Abebi and Obalowu Jimoh in custody at Oke-Kura Custodial Centre for 30 days, pending the hearing of the case against them.
The statement reads: âWe are raising our voice against the order of the magistrate court to remand Yeye Osun pending the hearing of their case. It is nothing but a travesty of justice and an abuse of their rights as Nigerian citizens.
âIt is unfortunate that at this time and age of civilization, some people can use religion as a tool to abuse other peopleâs rights and stoke religious crisis.
âNigeria is a secular nation. It is very unfortunate that some people could be so mean to use religion to create avoidable crisis in Ilorin.
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âWe are appealing to those behind the crisis not to set Yoruba land ablaze. They should desist from any act that could lead to religious crisis in the state.
âReligion is a sensitive issue, and we must respect the secularity of the Nigerian state. It is sacrosanct.
âI am appealing to all those that are involved in the lingering crisis in Ilorin to seek peace and religious tolerance as a way of addressing the crisis that has been engulfing the state in recent times.
âJustice must prevail, and those arraigned must be given fair hearing without any prejudice.
âThis is not the time to fan the embers of religious crisis. Nigerians and the whole world are watching, and the religious leaders should desist from acts that could lead to crisis.â
The OFF chieftain, however, called on the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, to use his position to seek religious peace by calling on those that are bent on using religion to cause disharmony in the town to desist from such acts that can set Ilorin on fire.
âLet us seek religious tolerance; both the Muslims and traditional religion believers should go about their religious activities in a civil way so as to ensure peace in Yoruba land.â