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Osun Traditional Rulers Rally for Fair Elections, Remind of Past ‘Operation Wetie’ Turmoil
Osun Traditional Rulers Rally For Fair Elections, Remind of Past ‘Operation Wetie’ Turmoil
Traditional rulers from across Osun state have warned against a repeat of ‘operation wetie’ which followed the rigging of the Western regional elections in the first republic, demanding free and fair election on August 15.
A highly revered monarch, the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin gave details of the meeting of the traditional rulers in a Facebook post this morning:
The full post is reproduced below:
“The Traditional Rulers of Osun State, under the leadership of our father and revered leader, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, met for about five hours yesterday in deep deliberation on the state of our dear state, OSUN.
“The meeting of the day was presided over by my peaceful brother, Alayeluwa Oba Abdudlwahaab Olukayode Oyedotun Bibire, the Orangun of Ila.
“Our hearts are heavy.
“We are worried about the rising tension in our state.
“We are worried about the political killings that have begun to stain the peace we have laboured to build.
“After prayers and counsel, the INEC Chairman, our Kogi-born erudite legal scholar, Prof. Amupitan SAN, and his distinguished team of officials joined us to brief us on INEC’s state of preparedness for the all-important Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for August 15th, 2026.
“Before their arrival, we reached one clear resolution as fathers of the land:
“We must live above board. We must see all candidates as our children. Palaces must remain the home of ALL. We must never be partisan.
“As we deliberated, we went down memory lane.
“We remembered the 1965 Western Region election that birthed Operation Wetie.
“We remembered how that crisis opened the door to military incursion into our body politics.
“We remembered the 30-month Civil War from 1967 to 1970 that followed.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
“Osun cannot afford, and Nigeria cannot afford, a repeat of those ugly scenarios.
“Therefore, in the House of Oduduwa, we have entered into a sacred bond for peace:
- To INEC: Give Osun a free, fair, credible, and transparent election. Let the votes of our people count. Let August 15th be a day of celebration, not sorrow.
- To Security Agencies: Be neutral. Protect lives and property. Do not take sides. Your duty is to keep peace, not to break it.
- To Political Actors and Parties: See your opponents as brothers. The crown, the office, and power are transient. BLOOD IS NOT. Do not shed the blood of our children for ambition.
- To Our People: Come out peacefully to vote. Guard your PVC. Reject thuggery, violence, and hate speech. Osun is bigger than any candidate.
“Palaces across Osun will remain open to ALL.
“We are fathers to ALL.
“We will not endorse chaos. We will not bless violence. We will bless peace.
Osun is the heart of Yorubaland. What happens here will echo across the land.
“Let us choose the path of our ancestors: wisdom, dialogue, and Omolúwàbí.
“To the INEC Chairman, the meaning of his name was broken down for him: the chroniclers of history are watching. He must write for himself a positive and beautiful history.
“From Eyo Esua through Chief Michael Ani, to Hon. Justice Ovie Whiskey, to Prof. Humphrey Nwosu now to A. M. U. P. I. T. A. N.
“History beckons.
May Olodumare guide INEC.
May He guide our security agencies.
May He guide our politicians.
May He guide our people.
Osun a ni alafia. Yorubaland a ni alafia. Nigeria a ni alafia”, the post ended.
