You Can’t Be Born Again After Rituals, Lere Olayinka Tells Yoruba Kings

Lere Olayinka, the senior special assistant on public communication and social media to Nyesom Wike, has ignited a debate with a tweet posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

In the tweet, Olayinka delves into the intersection of traditional leadership, religion, and identity in Yorubaland, criticizing the contradictory religious stances of some traditional rulers.

Olayinka’s tweet explains a common practice in Yoruba culture where traditional rulers, despite their personal religious affiliations, are required to undergo traditional spiritual rites, often involving the veneration of Òrìsà (deities) and the authority of Ifá, the Yoruba system of divination.

His exact words read, “You are Christian. You are a Muslim. But you subjected yourself to the authority of Ifá and other Òrìsà to be selected as a traditional ruler.

After getting to the throne, passing through all RITUALS, you are now claiming BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN or DEVOUT MUSLIM. See enh, KONTINU. In Yorubaland, there is not a single king that doesn’t worship Òrìsà.”