Actress links national crisis to spiritual neglect
Veteran Nigerian actress Toyin 'Lola Idije' Afolayan has stirred debate by attributing the nation's mounting challenges to the abandonment of indigenous spiritual practices. Speaking on Friday at the Osun Dagbonu cinema experience with Sotayo Gaga in Osun State, the 66-year-old actress addressed growing insecurity, economic hardship, and other pressing issues confronting Nigeria.
On Day Two of the four-day cinema tour with fans, Lola Idije declared that the country's problems began when citizens stopped worshipping traditional idols. She urged a return to ancestral roots as a pathway to national progress.
Swear leaders before idols, she suggests
Lola Idije proposed that political leaders should be sworn in before traditional deities to ensure accountability. 'We won't suffer, and we won't be implicated in matters we know nothing about. God will help us find solutions to these problems in Nigeria. It's when we stop worshipping our idols that everything in Nigeria turns upside down,' she said.
'Imagine we want to swear in our political leaders before the god of iron and other idols, for them to swear that they will do the right things and won't embezzle, because they won't want thunder to strike them,' she added, suggesting that fear of divine retribution could curb corruption.
Return to traditional beliefs urged
The actress maintained that the country's problems are unlikely to be resolved until citizens embrace their cultural heritage. According to her, the challenges facing the nation are lessons that one's roots cannot be ignored.
'We've been copying the white way of life. We don't want to worship our idols again because we believe those who are modern and behave like white people are the new people we should be. We're just deceiving ourselves and living a fake life. Let's go back to our roots. Some people belong to one spiritual cult or another, and they must do what's required of them; when they don't do it, they won't progress,' she said.
Praise for film director
Lola Idije also commended Babatunde Akorede for his direction of the film 'Osun Dagbonu', produced by actress Tayo 'Sotayo Gaga' Sobola under Sotee Entertainment. The movie stars Peju Ogunmola, Lola Idije, and Ronke Odusanya.
'The knowledge and wisdom the director of this movie has to write this story can't be taken away from him because someone who has no knowledge or wisdom can't write this type of story. You won't write a story that'll put you in trouble,' she said.
Context of national insecurity
The actress's remarks come amid widespread condemnation from celebrities over the abduction of pupils, students, and teachers in Oyo State, as well as worsening insecurity across the country under President Bola Tinubu's administration. PREMIUM TIMES reported that celebrities faulted Mr Tinubu and his administration for their 'muted response' and demanded urgent action from security agencies and government authorities.
