“You Can’t Force Yourself On Electorates” – Ooni Cautions Politicians Against Violence, Tasks Monarchs To Be Neutral
The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR Ojaja II, has warned politicians against violent conducts before, during and after the 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 in his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife as Nigerians gear up to elect political leaders.
“No politician can force him or herself on Nigerians and this 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 youths, who are the largest, to partake in the polls as enshrined in the constitution and not to violate any of the processes. The country has already been through a lot including the recent fuel scarcity among others, we cannot 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 the defenders of our constitution by creating enabling environment and not bully the electorates.
“To we traditional rulers, I implore us to remain apolitical and neutral as fathers that we are to all politicians and the electorates. We must not be seen promoting political parties or politicians,” Ooni said.
Ooni had on Wednesday, during an interactive session with politicians in Ifeland which held at his Ile-Oodua Palace, declared that he had no preferred candidate in the 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.
