Ooni of Ife Urges Peace Before Osun Governorship Election

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, made an appeal for peace and unity as the Osun State governorship election approaches on August 15. This statement was issued on Tuesday by Sodiq Lawal, the Senior Media Officer at the Ooni’s Palace, on behalf of Moses Olafare, the Director of Media and Public Affairs.

The Ooni, represented by the Lowa Adimula of Ifeland, Oba Adekola Adeyeye, emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence among political factions, highlighting Ile-Ife's historical and spiritual significance to the Yoruba people. He urged political leaders to prioritize development in Ile-Ife, comparing it to the growth seen in other cultural centers like Sokoto and Enugu.

The Ooni called on politicians and their supporters to avoid violence and bloodshed during the electioneering period, stressing that elections should not divide communities or endanger lives. Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress and the party's governorship candidate, acknowledged Ile-Ife's cultural importance as the starting point for their campaign.