By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged political parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence and embrace peace ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The monarch made the appeal on Tuesday when the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, and other party leaders visited his palace in Ile-Ife.
Represented by the Lowa Adimula of Ifeland, Oba Adekola Adeyeye, the Ooni said elections should unite rather than divide the people, stressing that no political contest should lead to bloodshed.
He also called on voters to exercise their democratic rights freely and peacefully throughout the election period.
The monarch reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful coexistence, regardless of political affiliation, and described Ile-Ife as the spiritual and historical cradle of the Yoruba race.
He urged successive governments to prioritise the development of Ile-Ife, saying the ancient city deserves greater attention because of its historical and cultural significance.
The Ooni noted that the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi served as Governor of the old Western Region and left a lasting legacy across Yorubaland and Nigeria, but said Ile-Ife has not enjoyed development commensurate with its status since then.
Drawing comparisons with Sokoto and Enugu, he said the Yoruba people should work collectively to ensure their ancestral home receives similar recognition and investment.
Earlier, Aregbesola said the ADC chose Ile-Ife as the starting point of its governorship campaign in recognition of the city’s cultural and historical importance to the Yoruba people.
