Traditional religion adherents under the auspices of International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) have raised an alarm over alleged religious discrimination against them by the Chairman, Board of Directors, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Mrs Dotun Olaitan.
IR made this declaration in a petition written against the BCOS boss, addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and written by its counsel Kunle Sobaloju.
Sobaloju in the petition written on behalf of ICIR said that on Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) of BCOS jointly organized an Interfaith Prayer Programme for members of staff of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.
He stated that the event was conceived as an inclusive interfaith gathering involving representatives of the three major religious traditions practised by citizens of Oyo State and Nigeria, namely Christianity, Islam and the Yoruba Traditional Religion and the President of ICIR, Dr Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode and representative of Ifa Religion, was duly invited to participate in the programme.
Sobaloju in the petition alleged that rather than embrace the spirit of religious tolerance, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence which the programme sought to promote, Olaitan allegedly took exception to the participation of the representative of the Traditional Religion.
The petitioner also alleged that Fakayode was subjected to open hostility, disrespect, discrimination and public humiliation solely because he represented the Ifa Traditional Religion.
Sobaloju in the petition made available to journalists on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital described the action of the BCOS boss as abuse of office, violation of constitutional rights and one that can cause breach of peaceful religious co-existence in the state.
The petitioner described Olaitan’s action as a direct assault on the dignity, legitimacy and constitutional rights of adherents of the Yoruba Traditional Religion.
They then implored the governor to immediately investigate the matter.
The petitioner also urged the governor to drect the withdrawal and expungement of all warning letters, queries and disciplinary sanctions issued to staff members solely for facilitating the participation of the representative of the Traditional Religion.
The petition reads “We are Solicitors to the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) (hereinafter referred to as “our Client”), an organization committed to the preservation, promotion and protection of Yoruba traditional religion, culture, heritage and constitutional religious freedoms in Nigeria, on whose instructions we write this Petition.
Our Client has directed us to bring to the attention of Your Excellency the disturbing acts of religious intolerance, discrimination, abuse of office and victimization allegedly perpetrated by Mrs. Dotun Olaitan, the Chairman Board of Directors of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) against adherents and representatives of the Yoruba Traditional Religion.
“On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) of BCOS jointly organized an Interfaith Prayer Programme for members of staff of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State. The event was conceived as an inclusive interfaith gathering involving representatives of the three major religious traditions practised by citizens of Oyo State and Nigeria, namely Christianity, Islam and the Yoruba Traditional Religion.
“In furtherance of this objective, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, PhD, JP, a respected scholar and representative of the Ifa Religion, was duly invited to participate in the programme. Rather than embrace the spirit of religious tolerance, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence which the programme sought to promote, Mrs. Dotun Olaitan allegedly took exception to the participation of the representative of the Traditional Religion. Our Client was informed that at the event, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode was subjected to open hostility, disrespect, discrimination and public humiliation solely because he represented the Ifa Traditional Religion.
“The conduct complained of was not based on any misconduct, criminal allegation or professional deficiency on the part of Dr. Fakayode, but solely because of his religious affiliation and the faith he professes. Even more disturbing is the fact that following the programme, Mrs. Dotun Olaitan allegedly proceeded to victimize members of staff who facilitated the participation of the representative of the Traditional Religion. We have been furnished with copies of internal memoranda issued by BCOS management in which staff members were queried, warned and sanctioned for inviting an Ifa Priest to the interfaith programme.
“Particularly disturbing is the language employed in the warning letters issued by BCOS, wherein Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode was repeatedly described as a “controversial Ifa Priest.” The said memoranda further state that the tradition of BCOS permits participation only by Christian and Islamic clerics, thereby expressly excluding practitioners of the Traditional Religion from an inter-denominational prayer programme conducted within a public institution funded by taxpayers of diverse religious beliefs. The memoranda reveal an official policy of religious exclusion and discrimination against practitioners of the Yoruba Traditional Religion. The disciplinary measures imposed on the affected staff were clearly predicated upon their decision to include a representative of the Traditional Religion in a programme that was intended to be interfaith in nature.
“Section 38(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and propagate such religion or belief. Section 42 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the basis of religion. As a public institution established and funded by the Government of Oyo State, BCOS is under a constitutional obligation to maintain strict neutrality in matters of religion and to treat adherents of all faiths equally.
“It is therefore alarming that a government agency under the supervision of Oyo State should appear to have adopted a policy that recognizes Christianity and Islam while excluding the Traditional Religion practised by millions of Yoruba people. Such conduct is not only unconstitutional but also undermines the rich cultural heritage and religious plurality for which Oyo State is renowned.
“Oyo State occupies a unique place in Yoruba history and civilization and remains one of the foremost custodians of Yoruba culture and traditional institutions. The deliberate stigmatization of practitioners of the Traditional Religion by a public officer of the State sends a dangerous message of intolerance and exclusion. It is capable of creating avoidable religious tension, provoking resentment and undermining the peaceful coexistence which Your Excellency’s administration has consistently promoted. The description of a respected Traditional Religious leader as a “controversial Ifa Priest” in official government correspondence is particularly offensive, defamatory in tone and unbecoming of a public institution. Such characterization unjustly portrays practitioners of the Ifa Religion as undesirable persons whose participation in public events should be discouraged or prohibited.
“Our Client views the actions of Mrs. Dotun Olaitan as a direct assault on the dignity, legitimacy and constitutional rights of adherents of the Yoruba Traditional Religion. Our Client is further concerned that unless checked, such actions may embolden other public officials to engage in similar discriminatory conduct against practitioners of indigenous religions. Our Client believes that all religions recognized by law deserve equal respect and protection under the Constitution.
“In the circumstances, our Client respectfully urges Your Excellency to:
Cause an immediate investigation to be conducted into the conduct of Mrs. Dotun Olaitan in relation to the events of 2nd June, 2026 and the subsequent disciplinary measures imposed on BCOS staff. Direct the withdrawal and expungement of all warning letters, queries and disciplinary sanctions issued to staff members solely for facilitating the participation of the representative of the Traditional Religion.
“Direct BCOS to issue a public clarification and apology for the discriminatory characterization of Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode as a “controversial Ifa Priest.” Ensure that all government agencies and institutions under Oyo State adopt policies that respect religious plurality and constitutional equality. Consider appropriate disciplinary measures against any public officer found to have abused his or her office to promote religious discrimination. Establish clear guidelines prohibiting religious discrimination within all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Oyo State Government.
“Your Excellency, this petition is not intended to elevate one religion above another. Rather, it seeks to ensure that all religions recognized under the Constitution receive equal treatment and respect from public institutions.
The International Council for Ifa Religion remains committed to peaceful coexistence among adherents of all faiths and believes that Oyo State should continue to be a model of religious tolerance, cultural inclusiveness and constitutional governance.
We trust that Your Excellency will accord this petition the urgent attention it deserves in the interest of justice, fairness, constitutionalism and the preservation of religious harmony in Oyo State.
But, Olaitan when contacted denied the allegations against her. Olaitan in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday, noted that she did not disrespect Fakayode as claimed in the petition.
She said, “Thank you for calling me. We only requested for a Muslim cleric and a pastor, we have our regular ones that we use. Nobody made request for Ifa priest. BCOS has a board and management. It is a new thing entirely and if a new thing has to be added, we must carry everyone along. I told them to go ahead with the statusquo only for me to meet the Ifa priest.
“And I told the man, initially I don’t want to go there but it will send a wrong signal to the Ifa priest. I went there and I addressed them. And I left the place for my meetings and I took excuse. The Ifa priest is a regular visitor on our channels. He is regular caller on the radio and television. That I treated him unfairly is a lie. When did I disrespect him in the programme? I have the whole event on the tape. I did not disrespect him”
