Ooni advocates for repositioning of African traditional religion

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has advocated for repositioning of African Traditional Religion to make it contribute to the modern world. He tasked the adherents of the Traditional Religion to use their powers to solve many challenges facing the nation

The Ooni spoke in Ile-Ife when the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC), who visited the Ile-Oodua Palace to present the Certificate of the association to him as chairman of the BoT. ARSADIC is an umbrella body for all adherents of traditional religion worshippers formed in 1775 with headquarters in Ile Ife, Osun State.

 Tasking the traditionalists, the Ooni said they could support Nigeria to overcome many of her contemporary economic and health challenges with their traditional powers. According to the foremost Yoruba monarch, the adherents of traditional religion should use their sound knowledge of God and nature in a positive way to solve myriads of challenges facing the contemporary world, especially Nigeria and Africa.

 He said: “Until we begin to make positive contributions to the modern world with our knowledge of God and nature we may not treated fairly and win the world recognition. We are at the Centre of the world in Ile-Ife here and we deserve to be models to all parts of the world. With our religion, we have the best and most efficient means of communicating with the Supreme Being.
“I don’t believe in misuse of powers. We have this powers because of our sound knowledge of the nature and God. Our dieties are servants of God. Let’s stop wrong use of power. Activities of many adherents of Traditional African Religion is not helping us to endear the religion to many people that are interested in joining us. We know God and nature very well. God would not have given us this knowledge, if there would no be need for positive use for the powers.”

However, he warned the traditionalists not to use their powers to inflict pains on the people, saying those who paint the traditional religion in a bad light with their actions are making it unattractive. As parts of plans to re-position the traditional religion to enable it attract more people, Oba Ogunwusi said N200 million should be raised for the activities of ARSADIC.

 Oba Ogunwusi, who donated N1 million to the association, said: “Let’s solve problems and earn good money for ourselves and for this country. To repackage this association, I want us to raise a sum of N200 million. Collectively, we will look for the money. “I will give the association a sum of N1million and we will plan towards raising more money to help our association. I want you to be united and work towards a better Yorubal and and Nigeria at large.”

 Briefing the monarch about activities of the association, ARSADIC President, Chief Ifagbenusola Atanda, said since its inuaguration on 7th October, 2016, the association had registered 44 organizations within Nigerian and in the diaspora. According to him, plans are under way to register more traditional organizations under ARSADIC.

 Atanda, who disclosed that fund was a major challenge of the association, said the ARSADIC is now giving a priority to giving new orientation to its members to make them align with the advice of the Ooni.