Banks, state government offices and other establishments in Osun State were shut for business on Tuesday, as workers observed a public holiday declared by the state government for the celebration of the traditional religion’s “Isese Day”.
A visit to banks and local government secretariats in Osogbo showed that all activities were suspended as no staff of the establishments was seen in the offices.
The only people around were the security officials who manned their duty posts.
Bank doors were shut, while offices at the Olorunda and Osogbo Local Government secretariats, as well as the state secretariat, Abere, all in Osogbo, were also shut.
The day has been set aside for workers to stay at home to observe the holiday.
However, the Federal Government establishments were open for businesses, as the state holiday was not binding and not a national holiday.
Markets within the state and other private businesses equally carried out their activities, as the directive was hardly complied with or totally ignored.
A foodstuff seller at Akindeko market in Osogbo, Mrs Juliana Olorunfemi, said she was not even aware of the ‘Isese Day’ let alone the public holiday announced to celebrate it.
“I am an entrepreneur, I am not a civil servant, so I am not privileged or entitled to any holiday except I just want to rest at home on such days or any other day that I so chose.
“Again I am not a traditionalist and I don’t practice their faith, so I don’t know that they even have a holiday for their own celebration.
“It is only Muslim and Christian holidays I am aware of, and as you can see, the market is full and other market people are selling their goods, showing that majority, if not all of us, are not taking part in any Isese Day celebration,’’ she said.
The state government had on Monday announced Tuesday as a state holiday to commemorate the state annual traditional worshipers’ day known as the ‘Isese Day’.
The day is set aside by Osun State Government for traditional worshipers to celebrate their deities; the day being the peak of all traditional religious activities and festivities.
Government in a statement by the Supervisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Dr Obawale Adebisi, appealed to the traditional worshipers to be peaceful and law-abiding in their conduct during and after the festive period.
NAN
