The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged politicians and their supporters in Osun State to shun violence and embrace peace ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.
The monarch gave the charge on Friday at his palace while receiving the reelection campaign team of Governor Ademola Adeleke. The team was led by the chairman of the campaign council and former PDP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo.
Members of the entourage included Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi; Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Lere Oyewumi; Hon. Bamidele Salam, lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency; and Commissioner for Information, Mr Kolapo Alimi.
Also present were former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuf; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Accord Party Chairman in the state, Pastor Victor Akande.
Oba Ogunwusi said Osun is bigger than any individual or political interest. He urged politicians across all divides to avoid hate speech and actions capable of destabilising the state.
“I am appealing to politicians and their followers to shun violence. The whole world is watching Osun, and we must show them that we are peace-loving people,” the Ooni said.
“Osun is bigger than any political party or person, and we must ensure that our actions do not disturb the peace of the state. We should not fight ourselves. God is the only one who enthrones,” he added.
Earlier, campaign Director General Senator Lere Oyewumi said the team came to seek the royal blessing of the Ooni before commencing Governor Adeleke’s reelection campaign. “As cultured men, we know it is very important to come to the source and seek the royal blessing of the Ooni of Ife before we set out so that our journey will be fruitful,” he stated.
“We are set to move out to start talking to people about the election programmes of Senator Ademola Adeleke. We are assuring Ife people that the governor will not disappoint them,” Oyewumi added, while commending residents for their support.
Prof Oladipo said the Accord Party is committed to a violence-free campaign and urged opposition parties to reciprocate. “In the Adeleke camp, which I have the honour of leading, we don’t believe in violence, and we are going to ensure a violence-free campaign. Election is not a do-or-die affair. If you look at the infrastructural development that Governor Adeleke has brought to our city – he flyover, the roads under construction and those already completed, he has done so well,” he said.
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