The Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Clement Adesuyi Haastrup (Ajimoko III), has issued a stern warning to politicians linked to violence in his domain, invoking curses on them and their children while threatening exile for offenders.
Speaking during the induction of distinguished Ijesa sons and daughters into the Obokungbusi Hall of Fame in Ilesa on Easter Sunday, April 6, 2026, the monarch condemned the recent wave of killings allegedly tied to political activities.
Haastrup declared that any politician who instigates violence or sheds blood in Ijesaland would be banished, stressing that the safety of his people remains paramount. In a dramatic moment, he invoked divine punishment on perpetrators, stating that the “fire of God” would reach them and their families wherever they may be.
The monarch’s outburst followed reports that three Ijesa indigenes were killed by suspected political thugs within three weeks. He questioned how many more lives could be lost ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.
Describing the trend as barbaric, the former deputy governor lamented that some politicians shield their own families abroad while unleashing violence at home. He insisted that Ijesa people would no longer tolerate such bloodshed.
Addressing political leaders, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was present at the event, Haastrup vowed that any further killing would trigger collective action from the people, including denying perpetrators access to the region during elections.
He reaffirmed that maintaining peace, security, and stability in Ijesaland is central to his traditional mandate and warned that no individual, regardless of status, would be allowed to endanger lives for political gain.
The monarch also called on religious leaders—across Christian, Muslim, and traditional faiths—to intensify messages of peace and discourage political violence among their followers.
Earlier, the palace had raised concerns over rising lawlessness in the region, warning that unchecked violence could destabilise the longstanding peace of Ijesaland. It also urged aggrieved individuals to seek legal redress rather than resort to self-help or acts capable of inciting unrest.