2019 Election: Traditional worshipers pledge support for credible polls

AHEAD of coming general elections, members of the African Traditional Religion and Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria have pledged continuous prayers and spiritual support for the emergence of leaders with love of people at heart.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin at the weekend, President of the association, Aare Awoyemi Abimbola Oloriawo, said that none of his members would be found wanting in producing destructive herbal medicine either for thugs or politicians.

Oloriawo, who said that any traditional herbal producer that is found guilty of conspiring either with politicians or thugs to harm one group of people or party against another is not a true member of the association, added that etiquette of their religion frowns at such act.

He said that anyone found culpable would be dealt with accordingly.

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On the forthcoming presidential election, Oloriawo said that the association do not have a preferred candidate, adding that the association is voluntarily offering prayers to God to choose a leader that would turn around lives of people through execution of various people-oriented programmes and projects.

The association also condemned the increasing number of political thugs who, it said, have turned themselves into willing tools in the hands of politicians to achieve their selfish interest at the expense of common goal of the society.

He was confident that no member of his association would engage in such, saying that they are aware that consequences and spiritual punishment from God await such culprit.

Oloriawo added that his members had engaged and are still engaging in various spiritual assistance and sacrifice in order to have a peaceful and prosperous nation before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

He also called upon Federal Government to come up with a legislation that will authorise and legalise the use of traditional medicine like orthodox medicine.

Oloriawo also called for a robust collaboration between practitioners of orthodox and unorthodox medicines for possible production of more active and effective medicines in the country.

Oloriawo, who is also the Aare of ‘Isese Agbaye’, said traditional medicine remains the most effective means of curing all forms of ailments using only leaves and roots as ingredients.

The president regretted that previous governments in Nigeria had neglected herbal medicine despite its efficacy in the natural way of curing ailments and spiritual attacks.

Aare Oloriawo added that the inclusion of traditional worshipers in the scheme of things in Nigeria would balance three legs of religions upon which the country stands.