Ooni to Electorate: Use Your Votes To Tell The Uncomfortable Truths

Arole Oduduwa

The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has enjoined Nigerians to speak with their votes in the coming general elections.

The Ooni gave the admonition on Friday hours to the nation's election of new leaders into the  presidential and National Assembly offices, scheduled to hold on Saturday. 

The foremost traditional ruler in the message, recounted the poor state of the nation over the last four decades despite her huge potentials, which he attributed to the insensitivity and clueless leadership displayed by successive adminitrations.

He therefore reminded citizens of the only opportunity at hand to cause a desired positive change by voting the right candidates who will steer the affairs of the country for the next four years.

"Nigeria's formation was, in a broad sense, a compelling opportunity to harness the blessings of our diversity while cherishing the uniqueness of our unity. Our founding fathers envisioned one nation bound in freedom, peace, and unity. We must therefore painstakingly consider the price they paid to bequeath Nigeria to us. 

"They sacrificially orchestrated a path of diversity and prosperity for our common good that we might live in abundance. Despite their differences, they toiled for Nigeria for a shared goal that transcended our current political power struggles.

"Over the last four decades, our economy has been severely harmed by a dearth of progressive governance and unbridled greed. The fabric of our union and prosperity has been depleted and weakened. As a consequence of our poor decisions and subsequent inaction, we are all living through the agony of political failure. 

"At this critical juncture in our country's history, our nation needs leadership with the ambition to serve and not accumulate power for themselves, their cronies, ethnicity, religion, or cults of ideas, but to build a nation that represents our unique identities, nationalism, and patriotism. We need transformational leadership, a strategy for economic fortune, and a compass to drive and unleash both human and natural prosperity across all 774 local governments.

"The time has come to choose prosperity over poverty, corruption, and decades of inept leadership. Everyone, irrespective of their social status, deserves a chance to flourish in Nigeria and pursue their dreams through a rich, noble, and democratic doctrine of service. 

"As we proceed to elect new political leaders on Saturday and in the coming weeks, we must demonstrate our heroism and bravery to tell the "uncomfortable truths" to politicians and their decades of failed ideologies through our voters’ card, which remains our weapon to change Nigeria for the benefit of Africa and several other nations.", Ooni said