Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, urges political parties and supporters to shun violence and promote peace ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to prioritise peace, tolerance and unity as Osun State prepares for its August 15 governorship election.
The monarch made the appeal during a visit by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to his palace in Ile-Ife as the party commenced its campaign activities ahead of the election.
The delegation was led by the National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, and the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, alongside other prominent members and leaders of the political organisation.
The Ooni was represented at the occasion by the Lowa Adimula of Ifeland, Oba Adekola Adeyeye.
The monarch’s message was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Sodiq Lawal, Senior Media Officer at the Ooni’s Palace, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare.
Oba Ogunwusi used the occasion to appeal to political actors across the state to ensure that their activities before, during and after the election did not create tension or threaten the peaceful coexistence of the people.
He emphasised that political competition should not become a reason for violence, noting that the value of any election lies in allowing citizens to freely make their choices without intimidation, bloodshed or unnecessary conflict.
The Ooni therefore called on all political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns responsibly and avoid inflammatory statements or actions that could heighten tension in the state.
He said political differences should not be allowed to destroy relationships among the people, stressing that the people of Osun State would continue to live together long after the election had been concluded.
“We appeal to all political parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence, avoid bloodshed and remain patient. Elections should not divide our people or cost anyone his or her life.
“Let the campaigns be peaceful while the electorate freely exercises their democratic rights,” the monarch said.
Beyond the forthcoming election, the Ooni also used the visit to draw attention to the need for greater development in Ile-Ife, which he described as a city of enormous historical, cultural and spiritual importance to the Yoruba people.
According to him, Ile-Ife occupies a unique position in Yoruba history and should receive more deliberate attention from governments and political leaders.
He argued that the city’s historical status should be reflected in the level of infrastructure, investment and development it attracts from successive administrations.
The Ooni noted that Ile-Ife had played an important role not only in Yoruba history but also in Nigeria’s political evolution.
He cited the example of the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi, who served as the governor of the old Western Region, describing his political legacy as one that extended beyond Ile-Ife and left an impact across Yorubaland and Nigeria.
“Ile-Ife remains the source and ancestral home of the Yoruba people. Politics in modern Nigeria has a rich history that also has strong roots in Ile-Ife.
“The late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi served as governor of the old Western Region, and his remarkable contributions are felt not only in Ile-Ife but throughout Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole,” he stated.
Oba Ogunwusi expressed concern that the ancient city had not experienced the level of development he considered appropriate for a place with such a significant position in the history and identity of the Yoruba race.
He called for collective efforts by political leaders, governments and other stakeholders to ensure that Ile-Ife benefits from meaningful development and receives the recognition that reflects its status.
The monarch made reference to other cities regarded as ancestral or historical centres by different ethnic groups in Nigeria, arguing that similar attention should be given to Ile-Ife.
“The Hausa people regard Sokoto as their source, and today Sokoto continues to enjoy significant development.
“The Igbo people hold Enugu in high esteem as one of their historic centres, and its growth is evident. We, as Yoruba, who acknowledge Ile-Ife as our source, must collectively ensure that this ancient city receives the attention and development it deserves,” he said.
Earlier, Aregbesola explained that the ADC deliberately selected Ile-Ife as the starting point of its governorship campaign because of the city’s deep historical and cultural connection with the Yoruba people.
He described Ile-Ife as the source of the Yoruba race and said the decision to begin the campaign there was also in line with a political tradition that dates back several years.
According to him, the visit to the Ooni’s palace was not merely a political engagement but also an opportunity for the party to seek royal blessings before commencing its campaign across the state.
Aregbesola recalled that members of his political family had previously visited the palace before embarking on major political activities, adding that the latest visit was intended to sustain the tradition.
“Ile-Ife remains our source. It has been about eight years since we last came here for this purpose.
“We came with the candidate of our former political party, and although the people of Ife stood solidly with us, God did not permit that opportunity to be fully utilised,” he said.
The ADC national secretary added that the party had consistently regarded Ile-Ife as an important starting point for its political engagements because of the city’s place in Yoruba history.
“Our tradition has always been to begin our political campaigns in Ile-Ife because we believe this is our source.
“Since 2004, we have consistently visited the palace to seek royal blessings before embarking on major political activities, and we are here today to continue that tradition,” Aregbesola added.
The visit comes as political parties intensify their preparations and campaign activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
With political activities expected to increase in the coming weeks, the Ooni’s appeal places renewed emphasis on the responsibility of candidates and their supporters to maintain peace and respect the democratic rights of voters.
The monarch’s message also highlights the broader expectation that the election should be conducted in an atmosphere where residents can participate freely and peacefully, regardless of their political affiliations.
As the campaign season gathers momentum, stakeholders will be expected to focus on issues affecting the people while avoiding actions capable of creating division or violence across the state.
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