Dr Olusegun Abatan, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State chapter, has criticised the persistent demonisation of African traditions and called for a renewed embrace of indigenous practices to address pressing societal challenges.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Pensioners’ House in Agbarigo, Ibadan, on Friday, Dr Abatan urged the Yoruba people to take pride in their cultural heritage, lamenting how foreign cultures often display double standards by secretly adopting practices they publicly label as ‘primitive’ when found in Africa.
He denounced religious hypocrisy, noting that while some individuals publicly mock traditional beliefs, they privately consult traditional practitioners, an action that, in his view, affirms the effectiveness of indigenous medicine and spirituality.
Expressing concern over rising insecurity across Yorubaland, Dr Abatan called on traditionalists to confront the situation by invoking the spiritual power of the Egungun to safeguard communities from kidnappers and bandits.
He also advocated a revival of native policing systems and traditional methods for addressing challenges such as infertility, epilepsy, and communal safety approaches, he noted, that had been proven effective through generations.
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Dr Abatan commended Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for initiating the World Egungun Festival, which took place on Thursday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.
He praised the governor for recognising traditional religious practices alongside Christianity and Islam in the state’s affairs, describing the move as a welcome gesture of cultural inclusivity.
The NUP secretary also lauded the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, for his role in organising the festival, and urged other governors to follow Governor Makinde’s lead in promoting and preserving Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
