Arole Oodua & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwunsi, Ojaja II has charged politicians in the State of Osun and Nigeria to always apply religious brotherhood approach to their politicking to have electioneering process that is violence free.
Ooni Ogunwusi who is Co-Chairman of National Council Of Traditional Rulers Of Nigeria said this on Tuesday at his Ile Oodua palace while receiving hundreds of muslim faithfuls led by the Chief Imam of Ifeland, Alhaji Abdul Samiu Abdul Hammed who had on their way from the praying ground visited the palace to pray for the king as annually done.
“The spirit of brotherhood being displayed by the faithfuls on a day like this is very laudable. At the Eid praying ground today, I saw politicians of opposing parties sitting side by side with one another relating together as brothers of the same womb in celebrating the Eid El Kabir which we Yoruba people call Ileya festival.
I urge our politicians to apply this brotherhood when they get to the field of politics because that will help us in witnessing a violence free elections always.” Ooni said.
The Ooni who had earlier joined Muslims at the praying groung situated along Ifewara road, Ilode in Ile-Ife to felicitate with them on Eid-el-Kabir festival where he also admonished muslims to imbibe the spirit of religious tolerance to be able to harmoniously coexist with adherents of other religious faiths.
Oba Ogunwunsi also advised Nigerian politicians and party supporters to refrain From promoting violence during the forthcoming elections, saying that there was no gain in violence and that nobody’s blood should be shed on account of elections.
He concluded his speech at the EID ground by appealing to the youths to be conscious of their future and shun politicians who use them for violence at the detriment of their future.
He sued for peace and admonished all Nigerians to jointly work for the development and progress of the country.
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ife, Alhaji Abdul Samiu Abdul Hammed called on the faithfuls to emulate the virtues of Prophet Muhammed for peace and progress to reign supreme in the country.
“Muslims should imbibe the teachings of the Prophet by preaching peace wherever they find themselves,” he said.
The cleric also advised Muslims to shun violence and any act capable of jeopardising the peace of the country.
