Some prominent leaders of Christian religion have condemned one of the Mogaji (family head) in Ibadan, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori over what they described as attack on Christianity.
The Christian leaders who spoke with journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan described Ariori’s outburst as one that can cause religious war in the ancient city.
Our correspondent reports that Ariori appeared on a live radio programme, Bembe Oro anchored by the duo of Saheed Alatise and Salawat Lukman on Noble 107.1 FM in Ibadan on Tuesday.
When asked how many wives he has, Ariori claimed that he has 25 wives because he is not a Christian that usually has only one wife with many concubines.
Ariori in the programme monitored by our correspondent, said that he took the decision so as to avoid fornication unlike Christians who usually has one wife but many concubines.
“Do you know what Christianity has caused to our society. It only permits a man to marry one wife. Some of them will have one wife and 30 concubines. I have 25. I am not a Christian that will have one wife and 30 concubines”.
Some Christian leaders in Ibadan while reacting described the statement made by Ariori as unfortunate and one that can cause religious crisis. They advised the Mogaji to apologise and seek forgiveness from the Christian community.
Some of those who spoke called on the Mogaji to steer clear of the issue of market leadership in the state. They maintained that the issue of market leadership should be left with market leaders, hence the Mogaji should stop dabbling into market leadership in the state.
A Christian leader from Ibadan South West local government area, Mr. Olu Olugbenga while reacting described Ariori’s statement as derogatory to the Christian population.
“His statement is inciting. It is not good at all. When they asked him to mention the number of his wives. I expect him to stop when he mentioned 25. The statement that Christian marry one wife and 30 concubines is inciting and can cause religious crisis”.
Elder Joseph Akande from Ibadan North local government area while speaking, urged Ariori to tender public apology to the Christian community.
“He is a Mogaji. I expert him not to say that kind of thing. It is inciting and discriminatory against the Christians. I expect him to tender public apology. I do not expect the Mogaji to dabble into market leadership issue because he is not one of them”.
Another Christian leader from Oluyole local government area, Pa Kola Olaosebikan, advised the Mogaji to tender his apology within seven days in four media houses.
“His statement is unfortunate. We expect him to tender apology within seven days and failure to do this, we will ask the Olubadan and his family to remove him from the position. He is Mogaji. I am sure he will have Muslims, Christians and even traditionalists in his family. So why is he uttering such statement?
A church leader from Ido local government area, Mr. James Ishola, said that a good leader does not discriminate on the basis of religion.
“A good leader does not utter such statement. A good leader does not discriminate on the basis of religion. It is very unfortunate that a family head who has adherents of different religions in his family is uttering such statement. He should apologise to us and he should desist from uttering such statement in the future”.
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