The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has charged 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 in Ile-Ife while receiving the reelection campaign team of Governor Ademola Adeleke, led by the chairman of the campaign council and former PDP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo.
Others in the entourage included Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi; Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Lere Oyewumi; lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Salam; 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, urging 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, the 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,” Oyewumi said.
“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,” he added, commending residents for their support.
In his remarks, Prof Oladipo said the Accord Party is committed to a violence-free campaign and urged opposition parties to reciprocate the gesture.
“I am going to appeal to everyone, especially the people on the other side. 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.
“We want peace in the land. It is through peace that development can come. Election is not a do-or-die affair, and we should allow the people to choose whoever they want. If you look at the infrastructural development that Governor Adeleke has brought to our city — the flyover, the roads under construction and those already completed, he has done so well,” Oladipo said.
Source: New Telegraph
