- Warn Tinubu, IGP, others against taking sides
Leaders of mainline Churches in Osun State have condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property that has greeted the struggle for the control of local government administration in the state.
They, therefore, called for the return of peace and solidarity in the state, saying residents of the state have been living in severe panic since politicians unleashed mayhem on the state on Monday.
The church leaders under the umbrella of Conference of the Heads of the Mainline Churches in Osogbo, are the Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, the Anglican Diocese of Osun, the Methodist Diocese of Osogbo, the Osun-Central Diocese of the African Church, and the President of the Osun Baptist Conference.
While Most Rev John Oyejola, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese chairs the conference, Rt Rev’d Folusho Babatunji, Anglican Bishop of Osun Diocese; Rt Rev’d Olu Akinola, Methodist Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Rt Rev’d James Bamidele, African Church Bishop of Osun Diocese and Rev Olubunmi Obalade, President, Osun Baptist Conference are members.
Addresing a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, the Bishops and President, expressed deep pain over what they described as the “willful bloodshed, killings, destructions and emotional violence that have suddenly overtaken our land and people in Osun State.”
Reading the text on behalf of other Chief shepherds who were present, Bishop Oyejola said, “We commend stakeholders who with high sense of responsibility and concern for the safety and wellbeing of all, especially the most vulnerable, have been very dutiful, exercised self-restrain and maturity to prevent the situation from degenerating into further lawlessness and destruction.”
“We are saddened to observe how some unprincipled political leaders, who, rather than use the law and legal processes to enrich our coexistence and strengthen our bond of unity, rather than exploit the loopholes therein to advance personal interest to the detriment of our common existence even to the extent of taking innocent human lives of private citizens. We are worried that this unconscienced attitude could occasion the reign of violence and bitterness that can tear apart a state we have mutually worked in solidarity to build up to this stage through peaceful engagements,” he added.
Warning politicians against further violence, the bishop said, “Our politicians need to remember that governance is a call to serve the people and not themselves and/or their cohorts. They should see themselves not just as heads or agents of various political parties but as political leaders who have been or being entrusted with governing the people in strict compliance with the law, and in just and fair manners. It will be very shameful if, as political leaders they cannot come together in civility from across party divides to resolve their differences amicably without recourse to violence.
“We, therefore condemn in strong and unambiguous terms the undue killings and destruction of properties that have engulfed our beloved State in the last few days.”
On the forthcoming local government election in the state, he said adequate preparations by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission have been commendable, adding that “Care must be taken for it not to be tagged as the bloodiest local government election in the State.”
“We therefore call on these political leaders to reverse the negative developments and the Local Government leadership recruitment in our state. We challenge them to restore peace and solidarity, one, by having in themselves the ethos and spirit of Omoluabi, and get them to the process of the law with true conscience built in the fear of God and be opened to dialogues that promote peace and respect for one other even amid disagreements,” he stressed.
Oyejola urged agents of the electoral commission to comply with the law, create level playing ground for all and manifest transparency in the electoral processes as well as in the management of election results.
“Finally, we appeal also for calmness and civility with the post-election developments. Proper dispute resolution mechanism in accordance with law already exists for the settlement of election grievances, let them be put to proper use where necessary. Beyond the legal structures, we look forward to mature and civil attitude from our political leaders in managing political differences in a manner that prove to the citizens and the entire world that their diversity is an asset that is very resourceful in building on our recorded progress, as we prudently deploy our very scarce resources to stabilize our dear state in the midst of the current economic hardship,” he posited.
Oyejola, while fielding questions form journalists after his address, called on President Bola Tinubu not to take sides amid the crisis in the state, urging him to as a father of the nation, ensure lasting peace in the state. He also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that his operatives are not political and guarantee the safety of all citizens.
Other church leaders who spoke in their separate interviews, sought peace and urged President Tinubu and other key stakeholders and authorities to allow fear of God to prevail in restoring peace in the state.