The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has tasked traditional worshippers to initiate their children to prevent traditional religion from going into extinction.

The Ooni gave the task during a news conference organised by Association of Ajo Esin Abalaye Adulawo of Nigeria (ARSARDIC), commemorating Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary Prayer on Friday in Ile-Ife.

Oba Ogunwusi, who was represented by Erebese of Ile-Ife, High Chief Adeboye Atetedaye, said parents had great influence on the choice of religion by their children.

He urged traditionalists to educate children to value their cultural heritage and traditional religion as Christians and Muslims did for their wards, adding that traditionalists continue to sustain the love and unity that exist among them.

Earlier, Asiwaju Awo Agbaye and president of ARSARDIC, Sola Atanda, asked the federal government to expedite restructuring of Nigeria Inter Religious Council to reflect the true secularity of Nigeria.

He said that as part of efforts of traditionalists towards fighting insecurity and other challenges, Ogun appeasement and propitiation recently helped towards calming all forces fanning the embers of insecurity.

“Insecurity challenges are being addressed spiritually and we believe strongly that the way and manner it’s been handled in South-West Nigeria needs to be emulated by other geopolitical zones,”Mr Atanda said.

(NAN)