By Odesola JF., PhD
As Osun State approaches another governorship election, there is a need for every politician, political party, supporter and citizen to remember one simple truth: election is a contest for public service, not a battle for survival. It is an opportunity for citizens to choose who should govern them, not a licence for political actors to destroy one another.
The principle should therefore be simple: live and let live.
Political disagreements are normal in a democracy. Passion is understandable. Competition is inevitable. But when political competition becomes hatred, intimidation, violence and revenge, democracy itself becomes the victim.
The forthcoming Osun governorship election should not be treated as a do-or-die affair. Nobody should behave as though losing an election means losing one’s life, dignity, relevance or future.
Osun belongs to all of us.
Politics Must Not Become War
One of the greatest dangers facing Nigerian democracy is the mentality that political power must be captured at all costs. Once politicians begin to believe that victory is more important than human life, everything becomes permissible: threats, intimidation, character assassination, violence, vote buying and the use of political thugs.
This is dangerous.
A political office is temporary. Human life is not.
The office of governor lasts for a constitutionally defined period. The consequences of violence, however, can last for generations. A person may lose a brother, sister, husband, wife, child, business or property because of political violence, while the politicians who sponsored or encouraged the conflict may eventually reconcile and move on.
We have seen this repeatedly in Nigeria.
Osun itself has experienced the painful consequences of political violence. Reports surrounding previous elections have documented intimidation, clashes and attacks involving political actors and supporters. One analysis by ACLED identified Osun as a particularly significant battleground for political violence, while a 2023 report noted that violence involving political parties had been especially pronounced in the state. (ACLED)
These experiences should teach us a lesson: we must not allow history to repeat itself.
The 2022 Election Should Teach Us Something
The 2022 Osun governorship election provides an important democratic lesson.
The election was fiercely contested between Ruling Party and Opposition Party. Opposition Candidate was declared the winner after polling, while the result subsequently became the subject of legal challenges and judicial proceedings. The contest demonstrated that political power can change hands through the ballot box and through constitutional institutions rather than through violence. (Guardian Nigeria)
That is democracy.
A candidate can campaign vigorously, mobilise supporters, lose an election and still live to contest another day. A winner can celebrate without humiliating the loser. A loser can accept the outcome—or challenge it through the courts—without calling his supporters to violence.
That is how civilised societies operate.
The lesson is particularly important today because reports indicate that political violence has again become a major concern ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election. The police leadership has reportedly ordered an end to political killings and violence in the state. (Osun State Official Website)
This should concern everybody, regardless of political affiliation.
Nobody Owns Osun
No politician owns Osun State.
No political party owns Osun.
No political family owns Osun.
No godfather owns Osun.
The people own Osun.
The farmer in Iwo owns Osun. The trader in Osogbo owns Osun. The teacher in Ilesa owns Osun. The Sawyer and hunter in Igbajo owns Osun. The artisan in Ede owns Osun. The civil servant in Ikire owns Osun. The student in Ife owns Osun. The businesswoman in Ejigbo owns Osun.
They all have a stake in the peace and prosperity of the state.
Therefore, politicians must never sacrifice the interests of ordinary people on the altar of political ambition.
Imagine a young man being encouraged to fight because of a politician. He may be arrested, injured or killed. Meanwhile, the politician’s own children may be safely studying abroad.
Imagine two families who have lived as neighbours for decades suddenly becoming enemies because their preferred candidates belong to different parties.
Imagine a market woman whose shop is destroyed during a political clash. The politician may eventually win the election, but who will rebuild her business?
Imagine a father who loses his son because somebody wanted to prove political strength.
What political victory can compensate for that?
None.
Losing an Election Is Not the End of Life
One of the most important lessons politicians must teach their followers is that there is life after election.
There have been presidents, governors, senators, members of parliament and councillors who lost elections and continued to contribute meaningfully to society.
Some returned to public office later.
Some became advisers, business leaders, academics, philanthropists and community leaders.
Some contested again and won.
Political history is full of reversals.
A person who loses today can win tomorrow. A person who wins today can lose tomorrow.
That is why nobody should destroy his future because of one election.
Political power changes hands.
Governments change.
Parties rise and fall.
Politicians who were once powerful eventually become former governors, former ministers, former senators and former party leaders.
But the ordinary people remain.
The roads remain.
The schools remain.
The hospitals remain.
The communities remain.
Therefore, political leaders must think beyond the election.
Let the People Decide
The responsibility of political parties is to present credible candidates, convincing manifestos and workable programmes.
Let the people decide.
If Candidate A has better ideas, let the people vote for Candidate A.
If Candidate B has a stronger programme, let the people vote for Candidate B.
If Candidate C convinces the electorate, let Candidate C win.
There should be no intimidation.
There should be no political thuggery.
There should be no destruction of campaign materials.
There should be no attacks on opposition supporters.
There should be no threats against voters.
There should be no manipulation of the electoral process.
And there should be no justification for violence.
The electorate should be allowed to listen, compare, think and vote according to conscience.
A mature politician should be able to say: “I want to win, but I will not kill to win.”
That is leadership.
Political Opponents Are Not Enemies
This is another lesson Nigerians must learn.
Someone who belongs to another political party is not automatically your enemy.
The person may be your brother, sister, neighbour, colleague, schoolmate or friend.
You may support different candidates and still attend the same church.
You may support different parties and still belong to the same community.
You may disagree politically and still cooperate on matters affecting your town.
Democracy requires disagreement without destruction.
In fact, political opponents can sometimes become partners in the future.
Today’s opponent may become tomorrow’s ally.
Today’s supporter may become tomorrow’s critic.
That is politics.
Therefore, politicians must stop using language that demonises their opponents and inflames their supporters.
Words matter.
When leaders describe political opponents as enemies who must be crushed, some followers may interpret the language literally.
Responsible leadership requires restraint.
Osun Must Rise Above Political Violence
Osun is a state with a proud cultural heritage, intellectual history and strong traditions of community life. It should not become known primarily for political violence.
The state deserves politics of ideas.
Let candidates debate education.
Let them debate healthcare.
Let them debate agriculture.
Let them debate youth employment.
Let them discuss infrastructure, security, tourism, technology and economic development.
Let them tell the people how they intend to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
The real question should not be, “Who will defeat whom?”
It should be:
“Who can serve Osun better?”
That is the question that should dominate the election.
Politicians Must Control Their Supporters
Political leaders cannot simply condemn violence after it has happened. They must actively prevent it.
They must tell their supporters clearly that nobody should attack another person because of politics.
They must discipline members who engage in violence.
They must discourage inflammatory speeches.
They must cooperate with security agencies.
They must respect electoral rules.
They must accept legitimate results or seek legal redress where necessary.
The message should be consistent from the top to the grassroots:
Vote, don’t fight.
Campaign, don’t intimidate.
Persuade, don’t threaten.
Compete, don’t destroy.
Disagree, but don’t hate.
The Winner Must Remember Tomorrow
Even the eventual winner must remember that victory is temporary.
The winner becomes governor of the whole state—not merely governor of his party’s supporters.
After the election, there will be APC members, PDP members, Labour Party supporters, Accord supporters and supporters of other political platforms living together in the same state.
The governor must govern all.
Likewise, the loser must understand that democracy does not erase his dignity or relevance.
There will be another political season.
There will be another opportunity.
There will always be another chapter.
Conclusion: Osun Is Bigger Than Any Election
The forthcoming Osun governorship election is important, but it is not worth one human life.
It is not worth destroying a family.
It is not worth burning a business.
It is not worth turning neighbours into enemies.
It is not worth destroying the future of young people.
It is not worth damaging the name and reputation of Osun State.
Live and let live.
Let politicians compete with ideas.
Let candidates campaign with dignity.
Let supporters disagree without violence.
Let security agencies remain professional and impartial.
Let INEC and other electoral institutions perform their responsibilities transparently.
Let citizens vote freely.
Let votes count.
Let legitimate grievances be taken to the courts.
And when the election is over, let everyone remember that Osun will remain after the politicians have left the stage.
The real victory is not merely winning an election.
The real victory is conducting an election in which nobody has to bury a loved one because of politics.
The real victory is when the winner can govern peacefully and the loser can walk away with dignity.
The real victory is when, after the results are announced, the people of Osun can shake hands and say:
“We disagreed politically, but we remained brothers and sisters.”
That is the Osun we should desire.
That is the democracy we should build.
And that is why the 2026 Osun governorship election must never be allowed to become a do-or-die affair.
Live and let live. Osun is bigger than any politician, bigger than any political party and certainly bigger than any single election.
