The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed support for calls by traditionalists in Yorubaland for the Federal Government to declare August 21st and 22nd as Isese Day public holidays.
MURIC, however, said its support comes with conditions, stressed that traditional religion adherents must also respect the fundamental rights of others.
The group’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, August 21, 2025, by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to Akintola, freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that must be enjoyed by all faiths, adding that Muslims cannot oppose traditionalists’ demand for recognition.
“This demand is just, legitimate and constitutional. In so far as the other two religions enjoy the right, traditionalists also deserve it. Therefore, we have no objection to their demand,” the statement read.
But MURIC cautioned that its support was not unconditional. The group accused some traditionalists of infringing on the rights of others during festivals, citing illegal curfews, restrictions on women, attacks on places of worship, and ritual killings.
“In which case all past infringements and encroachments on Allah-given fundamental human rights of others by the same adherents of Isese must stop. Put more succinctly, there shall be no more illegal curfews, no more unlawful restrictions of people’s movements particularly during Oro festivals, no more infractions on the rights of women, no more public flogging of innocent Nigerians by masquerades, no more killing of humans for ritual sacrifices, etc.,” Akintola stated.
He argued that while state governments in the South West have begun to recognize Isese Day with public holidays, such decisions were taken without due consultation or consideration of the grievances of stakeholders affected by traditionalists’ excesses.
MURIC maintained that Nigeria should be built on equity and mutual respect, warning that failure to hold traditionalists accountable could spark religious crises in Yorubaland.
“The onus is on them to pledge to respect the fundamental human rights of others by stopping all their excesses. We advise the Federal Government not to grant their demand for Isese Day until they provide a written commitment on the above serial infringements,” the group insisted.
