Ooni Advocates Peace Ahead of Osun Poll as Adeleke Campaign Team Seeks Royal Blessing

The Imole Campaign Council, the group steering the re-election bid of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, paid a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at his palace on Friday. The delegation sought royal blessings ahead of the formal launch of their electioneering campaign for the upcoming August 15 governorship election.

Led by campaign council chairman and former Peoples Democratic Party National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the team included prominent state figures such as Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Senator Lere Oyewumi, federal lawmaker Bamidele Salam, and Information Commissioner Kolapo Alimi.

Receiving the delegation in Ile-Ife, Oba Ogunwusi issued a strong call to action for all political actors and their followers, urging them to reject violence and commit to an orderly electoral process. The monarch emphasized that the stability of Osun State supersedes any individual or partisan ambition, cautioning against hate speech and disruptive behavior. He reminded the political class that leadership ultimately rests in divine hands and that the state must project a peaceful image to the watching world.

Responding to the royal charge, Prof. Oladipo affirmed the council’s commitment to a peaceful campaign cycle, extending an appeal to opposing political camps to maintain decorum. He argued that sustained peace is vital for regional development and pointed to Governor Adeleke’s ongoing infrastructural projects including active flyover and road constructions as the primary message they intend to take to the electorate. Campaign Director General Oyewumi added that visiting the traditional source for royal blessings was a necessary cultural protocol to ensure a fruitful campaign.

The political alignment comes amid heightened anxiety regarding potential instability leading up to the August ballot. The state has recently experienced recurring friction between supporters of the Accord Party and the All Prowess Congress, the two dominant political forces in the region, making safety a central concern for the upcoming polls.