The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, 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 that parents had great influence on the choice of religion by their children.

Ooni urged traditionalists to educate children to value their cultural heritage and traditional religion as Christians and Muslims did for their wards.

The royal father also charged the traditionalists to continue to sustain the love and unity that had existed amongst them for over three centuries.

Earlier in his address, Chief Sola Atanda, the Asiwaju Awo Agbaye and President of ARSARDIC, thanked God for the sustainability of Nigeria since independence over 61 years ago despite several challenges.

Atanda called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all citizens to join hands in praying to God for a positive turnaround of the situation in Nigeria.

“Prayer can never be too much as Olodumare is a listening God.

“This is why we have unanimously come together to organise the prayer session of today for all and sundry, irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliations,” he said.

Atanda appealed to Federal Government to expedite restructuring of Nigeria Inter Religious Council to reflect the true secularity of Nigeria.

“We all need to work together to save this country. Traditional rulers are respected and have a fatherly role to play also.

“The missing third leg of the tripod stand is necessary for stability and balance of the pot of Nigeria,” he said.

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 promoting embers of insecurity.

“Insecurity challenges is been 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,” he said.

He appealed to all and sundry to propagate and give support to traditional religion, culture and tradition in order to deliver our society from the ills of insecurity, corruption and immorality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ARSARDIC prayed for peace and stability, economic growth and end to insecurity in the country at the event.