Have you been following the disturbing news coming out of Osun State?
Almost every day brings fresh reports of killings, assaults, and senseless violence. Armed thugs roam the streets, emboldened by politicians and power brokers who have taken so much from society yet given so little in return. Instead of investing in young people, they recruit them into cult groups, arm them, and deploy them as foot soldiers in proxy wars.
But for what?
So that one man may remain governor while another takes his place. So that one politician may retain a legislative seat while another occupies it. Is any political office worth the blood of even one innocent citizen?
Political office is fleeting. Power is temporary. No governor, senator, or legislator occupies office forever. How tragic, then, that lives—precious, irreplaceable lives—are cut short in pursuit of positions that time itself will soon erase.
One thing, however, gladdens my heart. In all the reports of these ugly and ungodly incidents, I have not heard the name of my friend and compatriot, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, associated with violence. For that, I commend him and his movement. Let ideas contend, not weapons. Let persuasion triumph over intimidation. Even if victory does not come today, a politics founded on the enduring Omoluabi ethos would have planted seeds that future generations will harvest.
This is why I have repeatedly said that Osun can learn a valuable lesson from neighbouring Ekiti State. During the last governorship campaign and election, political contestation was vigorous, passions ran high, and the stakes were significant. Yet, not a single life was lost. I observed the process closely. It may not have been flawless, but it was remarkably peaceful. That alone deserves recognition.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, his opponents, party leaders, supporters, security agencies, and the people of Ekiti all deserve commendation for demonstrating that elections need not become battlefields. Democracy flourishes when ballots replace bullets and persuasion replaces violence.
I now appeal to the elders of Osun State—if there are still enough whose voices have not been silenced by personal interest or compromised by the lure of power and wealth. Rise to your historic responsibility. Call Governor Ademola Adeleke and his supporters, as well as the APC challenger and his followers, to order. Remind them that no electoral victory is worth the life of a single son or daughter of Osun.
This river of blood must stop.
The people are not asking for violence. They seek peace, security, jobs, quality education, functional healthcare, and the opportunity to earn an honest living. They desire hope, not fear; development, not destruction.
That is the true purpose of democracy. Not bullets. Not bombs. Not bloodshed.
Power gained at the cost of human lives is a curse, not a victory.