The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has urged the people of Iwoland to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The monarch made the call at a political gathering in Iwo organised to mobilise support for Oyebamiji and the APC ahead of the poll.

The event brought together political leaders, APC members, traditional rulers and residents from Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Government Areas, who canvassed support for the party and its candidates.

Oba Akanbi also declared his support for President Bola Tinubu, urging the people of Iwoland to identify with what he described as the centre of political power in order to attract meaningful development to the area.

He said the people of Iwo should align with political authorities capable of bringing tangible benefits to the community rather than, in his words, settling for “peanuts.”

The monarch said his support for President Tinubu was informed by what he described as the benefits and development initiatives of the Federal Government, urging residents to consider the capacity and track records of candidates before casting their votes.

He, however, expressed concern over the spate of election-related violence in Osun State, particularly reports of recent killings, and appealed to politicians and their supporters to refrain from actions capable of undermining peace and security.

Oba Akanbi stressed that no political contest was worth the loss of human lives, urging all contestants and their supporters to “sheath their swords” and allow the electorate to exercise their constitutional rights peacefully.

He noted that politicians seeking elective offices would ultimately govern the same people they were currently mobilising for support, warning that Osun could not afford further bloodshed before, during or after the election.

Meanwhile, political leaders, APC members, traditional rulers and residents of Iwo Federal Constituency at the event commended Peculiar Ultimate Concern Ltd., the contractor handling the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Ibadan Road, for commencing work on the long-abandoned highway.

Earlier, a former APC senatorial candidate for Osun West, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, said the gathering was also organised to appreciate President Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, for their roles in facilitating the reconstruction of the road.

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Ogunbiyi described the Osogbo-Ibadan Road as a major economic corridor that had remained in deplorable condition for more than 15 years, saying its reconstruction had restored hope among residents, motorists and businesses in Iwoland and neighbouring communities.

He said the project demonstrated the benefits of maintaining a strong relationship with the Federal Government, urging residents of Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa to reciprocate the gesture by voting for Oyebamiji and other APC candidates in Saturday’s election.

Ogunbiyi disclosed that the reconstruction contract was awarded to Peculiar Ultimate Concern Ltd., headed by Engineer Lanre Adeleke, an indigene of Iwo.

The company’s Project Manager, Engineer Lekan Adeleke, also appealed to residents to cooperate with workers and support the smooth execution of the road project.