Traditionalists Petition Makinde Over Alleged Religious Discrimination at BCOS

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Adherents of traditional religion, represented by the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), have lodged a complaint alleging religious discrimination by the Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Mrs. Dotun Olaitan.

The complaint was presented in a petition filed by their counsel, Mr. Kunle Sobaloju, and was addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Journalists in Ibadan were provided with a copy of the petition.

In the petition dated 2 June 2026, Mr. Sobaloju stated that Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, the representative of the Ifa religion and President of ICIR, had been invited by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) to participate in an Interfaith Prayer Program. The program was intended as an inclusive gathering for BCOS staff. According to the petition, Mrs. Olaitan allegedly objected to Fakayode’s participation.

Mr. Sobaloju claims that Mrs. Olaitan refused to embrace the program’s spirit of religious tolerance, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence. He alleges that Fakayode was subjected to open hostility, disrespect, discrimination and public humiliation at the event solely because he represents the Ifa traditional religion.

He described Mrs. Olaitan’s conduct as an abuse of office, a violation of constitutional rights, and a threat to peaceful religious coexistence in the state. He said it constitutes a direct assault on the dignity, legitimacy and constitutional rights of adherents of the Yoruba Traditional Religion.

The petition urges Governor Makinde to intervene immediately and to order the withdrawal and expungement of all warning letters, queries and disciplinary sanctions issued to staff members who facilitated the participation of the Ifa representative in the program.

The petition quotes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended): “Section 38(1) 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 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 continues: “In the circumstances, our Client respectfully urges Your Excellency to: cause an immediate investigation into the conduct of Mrs. Dotun Olaitan in relation to the events of 2 June 2026 and the subsequent disciplinary measures imposed on BCOS staff; and 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.”

When contacted, Mrs. Olaitan denied the allegations. She said she did not disrespect the Ifa representative as claimed.

She stated: “We only requested a Muslim cleric and a pastor; we have our regular ones that we use. Nobody made a request for an Ifa priest. BCOS has a board and management. It is a new thing entirely if we want to invite the traditionalists and if a new thing has to be added, we must carry everyone along. I told them to go ahead with the status quo only for me to meet the Ifa priest at the event.”

She added: “The Ifa priest is a regular visitor on our channels. He is also a regular caller on the radio and television. That I treated him unfairly is a lie. I did not disrespect him.”