By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo
Traditionalists in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have condemned the actions of a Christian group accused of desecrating the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
The reaction followed a viral video showing a Christian prophet entering the grove and claiming he was casting out evil spirits from religious symbols within the sacred site.
Responding to the incident, traditionalists under the aegis of the Otuagasa Foundation described the action of the Christian group as provocative and fanatical.
The founder of the foundation, Ogundeji Elebuibon, who spoke with journalists in Osogbo on Saturday, called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to caution its members in the interest of peace and religious harmony.
“It is already a public issue that some white garment Christians, named God of White Calling for Souls Ministries, led by one Prophet Odedoyin Ezekiel, paid to gain access to the Osun-Osogbo Grove, only to perpetrate what can best be described as an abomination, possibly with the intention of provoking religious unrest in Osogbo, the Osun State capital,” he said.
Elebuibon said the group obtained tickets to enter the sacred grove and recorded a video of themselves allegedly casting spirits out of religious symbols within the forest.
“This is an act of fanaticism taken too far and, if not properly addressed, could trigger a religious crisis in this peaceful town,” he added.
He questioned how CAN would react if a traditional worshipper entered a church to claim he was casting out the Holy Spirit from the building.
“For this reason, it is important that CAN call its members in the state to order and discourage them from desecrating spiritual sites like the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove,” he said.
Elebuibon noted that the grove is not only a religious symbol for traditional worshippers but also a cultural heritage and identity for the Yoruba people across the world.
“The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is not just a religious symbol but also a cultural and traditional heritage that has existed for hundreds of years. No one should be allowed to defile it or insult our collective identity in the name of religion,” he said.
He also called on the Nigeria Police in the state to investigate the activities of the group and ensure those responsible are brought to justice to prevent a recurrence.
“As traditionalists, we are mature enough to accommodate and live in harmony with other religions. We have allowed people access to the grove for spiritual cleansing for decades. Our tolerance should not be taken for granted.
“No one has the monopoly of violence, but for the sake of peace we have chosen to alert security agencies, especially the police, to investigate and arrest the overzealous religious fanatics,” he added.