Following the violence that broke out at Itaji Ekiti on Saturday and Ado-Ekiti on Sunday morning, traditional rulers in the state had called on stakeholders in the Saturday election to maintain peace in the development of the state.
Speaking on Monday, at the Palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, venue of the peace parley summoned by the monarchs, they expressed dissatisfaction with the violent trends in the build up to the elections.
The monarchs called on the candidates of the 16 political parties participating in the election to impress on their supporters to ensure there was no repeat of any trace of violence before, during and after the gubernatorial election.
Candidates of political parties in attendance including Biodun Oyebanji of All Progressives Congress, Bisi Kolawole of People’s Democratic Party, Segun Oni of Social Democratic Party and Mrs Kemi Elebute-Haile of Action Democratic Party, pledged that they alongside their supporters would play according to rule and ensured peace.
The Ewi, Oba Adejugbe, who warned against any form of recurrence of violence, warned that perpetrators and their sponsors “will be punished by the ancestral spirit of Ekiti forefathers”.
He said, “Elections will come and go, but our great state, Ekiti, will remain. Nothing thrives under violence. Our state can only move forward in a peaceful environment. Violence before, during and after elections is totally unnecessary and completely unwarranted because we are not at war.
“The essence of election is to allow the will of the people to prevail. The people are supposed to decide who will govern them and that is all. Democracy is not about killing or bloodbath, but an avenue where choices would be made freely.
“We (traditional rulers) are all apolitical. All that bothers us is violence-free electioneering process. But what happened in itaji-Ekiti and Ado Ekiti was condemnable and unacceptable.
“I, therefore, urge all stakeholders to place state interest above personal interest. We must prioritize peace and stability of our state as the people will go to the polls to elect a new governor,” the monarch stressed.
Also in attendance at the peace parley was the former governor of the state and chieftain of People’s Demicratic Party, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
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