The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is an indigene of Osun State and under normal circumstances would be expected to vote.
But the sovereign refused to vote and was nowhere to be seen.
Why couldn’t he vote? Well, according to the Ooni’s second in command, High Chief Adekola Adeleye, this is because the sovereign cannot be seen taking sides.
There was a polling unit beside the palace, but the sovereign did not come out even though proximity was not a thing.
Adeyeye said: “It’s not good for the Ooni to vote for any candidate. If he must vote, it will be for all the candidates because he’s the father of all, but that’s not possible, so kingmakers advised him not to vote.
“He cannot take sides. All the candidates are Ooni’s subjects and so it’s better for a father to be neutral when his children are in a contest,”
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The Sovereign might not have voted but as the ruler of all Yoruba people he wished all candidates the best and all the candidates had his blessing.
The Ooni had already stated that he could not vote but that he hoped the elections would be hitch-free. He said this while entertaining European Union Election Observers.
He said: “I am a father to everybody. I have prayed for all the candidates and we are hoping that whoever emerges would not betray the confidence reposed in him.
” I want to specifically thank the European Union Team for deeming it fit to come to Osun State to observe the Governorship election.
“Your input, support, time to deepen our democracy is highly appreciated because you are committed to good governance which is the essence of a sane society.
“If you can reminiscence, you will know that the democracy you are enjoying in your different countries today was not smooth when it started, because you also had challenges but today, you’ve overcome. Therefore, whatever lapses found inherent in our nascent democracy will soon be a thing of the past.
“Nigeria must get it right because we are the centrepiece of Africa and once we get it right; surely, the entire Africa countries will get it right as well.
“One of every four black men you see is a Nigerian. God wonderfully blessed us because we are the most populous black nation on planet earth.
“As European Union Observers, please write what you see, don’t favour any candidate, surely, a winner must emerge and there must be a loser.
I urge the candidates to be magnanimous in victory and be a gallant loser.”
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