A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Moshood Oshun has denied insinuating that politicians are fetish.
Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland 2 in the Assembly, stated that it would be wrong for him to insinuate that his colleagues were patronising traditionalists, adding that tradition should be separated from religion.
The lawmaker cleared the air on the matter in an interaction with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA) on Monday.
He claimed he was misquoted in a publication on the issue.
“I want to correct a report that is flying. On Thursday 17th October, 2019 during the Yoruba sitting in the House, a motion was moved by Hon. Setonji David from Badagry 2 on Isese Day and why the traditionalists should be granted a day for their celebration.
“In the cause of my contribution, I said that it was something we should all embrace because religion, tradition and culture go together.
“I went ahead to talk about the fact that we have lost our culture and our tradition. I said that we don’t even speak Yoruba language anymore and that our children don’t understand Yoruba language anymore other than English Language.
“I said that on the chamber that day that if you look at the civil servants, the doctors, the lawyers and politicians there was tendency that some of them had traditional medicine on them.
“But that day, I saw in a newspaper report indicating that I said that all Nigerian politicians tie charms on their waists, on their hands and the rest of it, which was erroneous.
“I never said only politicians that carry charms. Politicians are humans and just like I said that day; doctors, lawyers, civil servants and others had a choice to practise any religion. You don’t have to be a politician to practise a particular religion,” he said.
He said that the report had gone viral and people were asking him if he actually said what was reported by the media.
The politician insisted that having spent 12 years in the House, he couldn’t have said that on the floor, which he said was an open place.
“You must say what you mean and something you can defend on the floor of the House. I cannot defend that. I don’t even know all the politicians in Lagos State alone not to talk of the whole Nigeria.
“So, I cannot assume that all politicians do charms. I cannot even assume that all the politicians in my local government do charms not to talk of Nigeria,” he clarified.