The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has issued an urgent plea to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and national security agencies to intervene in Osun State, warning that political tension ahead of the state’s upcoming governorship election has reached an “unbearable” level.
Speaking at his palace in Ile-Ife while hosting electoral stakeholders and traditional rulers, the monarch expressed grave concern over rising political acrimony, inflammatory rhetoric, and localized clashes between rival political factions across various local government areas.
Core Concerns Raised by the Monarch
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Unbearable Political Heat: Oba Ogunwusi noted that political activities have degenerated into widespread hostility, causing panic among residents and disrupting social and commercial activities across major towns.
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Call for Neutrality and Timely Interventions: The Ooni urged INEC to act as a truly neutral arbiter and ensure all logistics, voter sensitization, and administrative processes are handled transparently to boost public confidence.
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Security Deployment Demands: He called on the Inspector-General of Police and heads of security agencies to deploy proactive intelligence and peacekeeping units to hotspot areas to prevent political violence before election day.
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Appeal to Political Actors: Addressing political leaders and their supporters, the traditional ruler cautioned against treating the election as a “do-or-die” affair, emphasizing that peace and the safety of Osun residents must transcend political ambitions.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OSUN GUBER TENSION & OONI'S APPEAL │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Key Figure : Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi │
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│ • Targeted Agency : Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) │
│ │
│ • Primary Concern : Escalating political violence, inflammatory │
│ rhetoric, and citizen anxiety ahead of polls. │
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│ • Core Request : Prompt INEC intervention, strict neutrality, and │
│ enhanced security presence across the state. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Preserving Peace in the Ancient City
Emphasizing the role of traditional institutions in maintaining stability, the Ooni reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Ile-Ife and the broader state peaceful throughout the electoral cycle:
“The tension in Osun State right now is becoming unbearable, and our people are living in fear. INEC and security agencies must come to our aid immediately… Election is a civic process, not a war. We cannot allow political interests to tear our state apart or destroy the peace of our forefathers.” — Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife
INEC officials have assured traditional rulers and residents that measures are being actively finalized alongside security forces to guarantee a peaceful, free, and fair election.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
