We have read The PUNCH’s editorial of Tuesday, November 20, 2012, titled, “Aregbesola’s Strange Holiday in Osun.” While we concede to The PUNCH the
right to express its opinion on any issue, we must state here that we
reserve the right to do what we believe is in the best interest of our
government, our people and the entire society that we govern. We made
the decision to declare that holiday consciously and without any fear of
contradiction in the objectives and rationale behind the gesture. This
is in consonance with our professed Six-point integral action plan;
which is enhancing communal peace and progress.
However, we believe that The PUNCH itself
should, in expressing the freedom to its opinions, be mindful of its
handling of sensitive issues in order to avoid being the one stoking the
embers of disaffection, sectarianism and total violence among the
Nigerian people of various and diverse interests.
We are also serving a notice to The PUNCH that
we are not done yet with this. For total balance of interests and
religious tolerance, Muslims and Christians too must accept the place of
the African Traditional Religion worshipers and their own rights in the
scheme of things. We are already in consultation with all relevant
parties in Traditional Worship for an annual “ISEDALE” day in our state.
If
anyone thinks that this gesture was a mere happenstance and something
not borne out of proper reasoning, the speech by Governor Rauf
Aregbesola at the event heralding the Muslim New Year says it all.
Semiu Okanlawon,
Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Osun State
Punch Nigeria
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