Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has called on the Federal Government to declare a national public holiday for traditionalists in the country.

He made the declaration on his 89th birthday celebration organized over the weekend.

Soyinka said traditionalists had been neglected for too long in the nation, and that it was high time they get their recognition.

He said traditional religions deserve annual holidays like Islam and Christianity.

“We’ve had enough, We’ve had enough of being second-class citizens in this nation. So, equal time, equal space, we demand public holidays,” he said.

He said the national holiday should be observed by state governments, local governments, and the Federal Government.