The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR Ojaja II, has warned politicians against violent conduct before, during and after the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.
Ooni Ogunwusi, who is the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), made the call on Thursday during a ‘State of the Nation’ broadcast, which he hosted at his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, as Nigerians gear up to elect political leaders.
“No politician can force himself or herself on Nigerians, which is why our politicians should avoid being desperate in their quest for power. If you don’t win today, it may be your turn tomorrow, and this is why I am imploring office seekers not to destroy tomorrow with inactions of today.
I call on Nigerians, especially the youth population, which is the largest, to partake in the polls as enshrined in the constitution and not violate any of the processes. The country has already been through a lot, including the recent fuel scarcity, so we can afford more trouble.
The umpires especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must work to give Nigerians a free fair and credible polls, while the security agents should maintain their status as defender of our constitution by creating enabling environment and not bully electorates.
To we traditional rulers, I implore us to remain apolitical and neutral as a fathers that we are to all politicians and electorates. We must not be seen promoting political parties or politicians.” Ooni said.
In the same vein, The Ooni had on on Wednesday during an interactive session with politicians in Ifeland which held at his Ile-Oodua palace declared that he has no preferred candidate in the forthcoming elections.
He condemned the reported political violent attacks in some parts of the country particularly Ile-Ife, stressing that Nigerians must be patriotic in their conducts always, charging the security agencies to ensure the arrest of perpetrators of violence and other criminal activities before, during and after the polls in the interest of law and order.
