- says power Belongs to people
By John Dike, Osogbo
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has urged politicians and voters in Osun State to shun violence, vote buying and other acts capable of undermining the credibility of the August 15 governorship election.
He also appealed to voters not to allow politicians to buy their conscience, urging them to go to their respective polling units peacefully, cast their votes according to their choice and return home without engaging in violence.
Speaking during the stakeholders’ engagement on the forthcoming governorship election, Oba Ogunwusi said the people of Osun State would ultimately bear the consequences of any violence arising from political activities, stressing that politicians would eventually reconcile among themselves after elections.
He said Osun State is bigger than all political parties, candidates and individuals contesting the election and urged residents to protect the peace and stability of the state.
“I always tell everybody there is no permanent friend among them. We are the ones that will suffer. Later on, they will go and align and leave all of us behind.
“They are always aligning, agreeing, disagreeing all the time. But what is critical is Osun is bigger than all of us,” the monarch said.
The Ooni commended the National Peace Committee and its members, particularly Reverend Matthew Kukah, for their efforts towards promoting peaceful elections and national stability.
He also praised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, for what he described as consistency in his position against vote buying and other activities capable of compromising the electoral process.
According to him, the electoral umpire must remain independent and ensure that the wishes of the electorate prevail during the election.
“Professor Joash Amupitan, like I said in the palace, you are the umpire now and we know that we are all looking up to God, and we are looking up to you,” he said.
The monarch said Amupitan had remained consistent in his warnings against vote buying and other “nefarious activities” that could undermine the credibility and independence of INEC.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for publicly defending the independence of INEC during his recent engagement with Christian leaders in the country.
The Ooni said the President’s position that INEC is independent and would be allowed to perform its duties should give Nigerians confidence in the electoral process.
“You have heard all our political leaders, including Mr. President, that said INEC is very independent. Everything INEC needs, he has provided for INEC. So the ball is in our hands because power belongs to us,” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi emphasised that political power ultimately belonged to the people, urging voters to exercise that power responsibly by voting for candidates of their choice without intimidation or inducement.
He said voters should not allow anyone to purchase their conscience with money, stressing that the right to choose political leaders remained a fundamental responsibility of the electorate.
“Whoever you choose to vote for, please go there peacefully, cast your vote, do not abhor violence. Do not follow anybody to do violence. Go back home peacefully, we do not want violence,” the monarch said.
The Ooni expressed concern over what he described as the high level of political tension surrounding the election, noting that the contest had attracted unusual attention because it was coming ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He appealed to political leaders and their supporters to moderate their language and conduct and avoid actions that could plunge the state into crisis.
According to him, Osun people are known for their republican and conservative disposition and would ultimately follow their conscience in deciding who to support at the polls.
“I know our people are very Republican. Our people are very conservative, they will follow their mind. They will follow whatever they want to do in terms of who they want to choose,” he said.
The monarch also drew attention to the long history of traditional institutions in Osun State, arguing that the state had survived successive administrations and political changes and would continue to exist beyond the tenure of any individual governor.
He disclosed that he had spent 11 years on the throne and had witnessed three governors in the state, while some traditional rulers had been on the throne for several decades.
“To the glory of God on this throne, this is my 11th year on the throne. I have seen three governors.
“So many traditional rulers, they’ve seen more than 12, 13 governors. We have traditional rulers on the throne that have been over 60 years in Osun State. You can see that the state is way above all of us,” he said.
The Ooni recalled that Osun State was formerly part of the old Oyo State before attaining its present status, stressing that the state had developed its own identity and remained a proud home of the Omoluabi ethos.
He therefore urged residents and politicians to protect the state’s reputation for civility, integrity and peaceful coexistence.
“We used to be part of Oyo State. Now we are in our own state and we are Omoluabi par excellence. Please, I want all of us to behave ourselves. Let us be peaceful, calm and go to polling units to vote, let us do whatever our wish. Don’t let anybody buy your conscience. It is very important,” the Ooni said.
The monarch also called on all candidates, party leaders and supporters to respect the rules of the electoral process and accept the outcome of the election peacefully.
He stressed that political disagreements should not be allowed to destroy relationships, communities or the future of the state.
While acknowledging the intensity of the contest, the Ooni maintained that the election should be approached as a democratic exercise rather than a battle capable of producing violence.
He further urged security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that voters could freely exercise their franchise without intimidation, harassment or inducement.
The monarch also light-heartedly addressed the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who arrived at the event late, joking that he would be “fined” for coming late, before again appealing to everyone present to remain peaceful.
The Ooni’s appeal came against the backdrop of heightened political activities in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with INEC, security agencies, traditional rulers and political parties repeatedly calling for a peaceful and credible poll.
He urged the people of Osun to demonstrate the Omoluabi values for which the state is known by ensuring that the election was conducted peacefully and without violence.
The Ooni said the ultimate responsibility for a peaceful election rested not only with INEC, security agencies and political leaders but also with ordinary voters, who he described as the true holders of political power.
“Power belongs to God Almighty and power belongs ultimately to the people,” he said.
