BY AGENCY REPORTER
Banks, state and local government offices in Osun State shut down on Friday for the ‘Isese Day’ celebration, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The ‘Isese Day’ was set aside by the Osun government for traditional religion believers in the state to worship their deities and celebrate their faith.
A former governor of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, in 2013, approved August 20 as public holiday in the state for traditional worshipers, under Section 2 (2) of the Public Holidays Act CAP P40 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2010.
NAN observed that banks in Osogbo, the state capital, were under locks and keys while offices at the state government secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, were equally closed.
The secretariats of Olorunda and Osogbo local government councils, both in Osogbo, were bereft of activities.
Schools in the state were also closed for holiday, but the Federal Government establishments were open.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday, announced through the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, that Friday, August 20, would be a public holiday to commemorate the 2021 Isese Day.
Oyetola, however, said that the 2021 festival would not be marked with the usual fanfare because of the increased rate of the third wave of COVID-19 in the country.
He appealed to the worshipers to be peaceful and law abiding in their conducts before, during and after the festival, adding that they should observe the COVID-19 protocols.
