A Prophetic Reflection on Politics, Power and the Sanctity of Human Life
This morning, 15 August 2026, my mind is heavily upon my home State of Osun.
As the State moves towards its gubernatorial election, I cannot but reflect soberly on the lives that have reportedly been lost and the blood that has been shed in the political struggles preceding this day.
And I ask:
What exactly are we celebrating?
What kind of victory is it that requires the death of another human being before it can be declared?
What kind of political ambition is so powerful that human blood becomes its price?
What kind of democracy have we built if men and women created in the image and likeness of God become expendable objects in the pursuit of political power?
The Bible declares:
«“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.”
— Genesis 1:27»
Every human life therefore carries a divine imprint.
The poor man on the street, the political supporter, the party agent, the policeman, the journalist, the voter, the political opponent, the candidate and even the person who disagrees violently with our political opinion—all bear the image of God.
To take such a life unlawfully is not merely an offence against man; it is an affront to the God whose image that life carries.
The first recorded murder in Scripture was politically insignificant. There was no election, no political party and no campaign rally. Yet Cain killed his brother Abel, and God asked:
«“Where is Abel thy brother?”»
Cain attempted to evade responsibility, but God answered with a frightening declaration:
«“The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.”
— Genesis 4:10»
Blood has a voice before God.
The blood shed in political violence does not disappear simply because music begins to play, food is served, drinks flow, crowds dance and victory songs are sung.
The earth remembers. Heaven hears. God sees.
The Book of Proverbs gives us one of the clearest warnings against the culture of bloodshed:
«“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: … a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”
— Proverbs 6:16–17»
What, then, shall we say when political actors march out today to seek victory after lives have been lost in the struggle for power?
Should there be dancing?
Should there be celebration?
Should there be triumphalism?
Or should there first be repentance, mourning and a solemn remembrance of those whose lives have been cut short?
For the truth is that political victory cannot resurrect the dead.
No gubernatorial seat is worth the blood of one innocent Nigerian.
No political party is worth the life of one young man.
No ambition for public office is worth the tears of one mother who has buried her child.
No election victory is worth the destruction of the soul.
Jesus Christ asked:
«“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
— Mark 8:36»
If a man gains political power but loses his humanity, what has he really gained?
If a party wins an election but leaves behind widows, orphans, grieving parents and broken communities, what kind of victory is that?
If political leaders feast while the families of the dead mourn, can such a feast truly be called a celebration before the God of justice?
WHO, THEN, IS THE REAL WINNER?
There is another dimension to this tragedy that we must not ignore.
Scripture identifies the devil as a murderer and a destroyer.
Jesus said:
«“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth.”
— John 8:44»
And Revelation describes Satan as:
«“that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
— Revelation 12:9»
The devil does not necessarily care which political party wins.
His deeper objective is destruction.
He rejoices wherever hatred replaces brotherhood, violence replaces dialogue, vengeance replaces justice, lies replace truth and human blood becomes the currency of political ambition.
That is why we must be careful.
The two political camps may imagine that they are fighting one another, while the real beneficiary of hatred, violence and destruction is the enemy of human life.
One camp may celebrate victory.
The other may mourn defeat.
But if both camps have lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to political violence, then death has already won something from both sides.
And that is a terrible victory indeed.
OSUN MUST NOT BECOME A SACRIFICE ALTAR FOR POLITICAL AMBITION
Osun is not merely a geographical expression on the map of Nigeria.
Osun is home.
It is the land of fathers and mothers, farmers and traders, professionals and artisans, students and children, Christians and Muslims, traditional communities and people of different political persuasions.
Osun belongs first to God, not to politicians.
«“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
— Psalm 24:1»
Therefore, no political leader has the right to treat the people as disposable instruments for personal ambition.
No supporter should believe that killing for a politician is patriotism.
No politician should encourage violence and then hide behind the language of democracy.
And no citizen should be so intoxicated by partisan loyalty that he forgets the sacredness of human life.
TODAY, LET THE LIVING REMEMBER THE DEAD
As the political actors of Osun step forward today, let them remember that the office they seek is temporary, but the consequences of their actions may outlive their political careers.
The Governor’s seat will one day belong to another person.
Political parties will change.
Campaign slogans will disappear.
Posters will be torn down.
Political songs will cease.
But the graves of those who died will remain.
And their blood will continue to tell its story.
Therefore, whoever emerges victorious today should not dance upon the graves of the dead.
Let the first act of victory be humility.
Let there be remembrance.
Let there be reconciliation.
Let there be a commitment that never again should political competition in Osun—or anywhere in Nigeria—require the shedding of innocent blood.
The defeated should not become enemies of the State.
The victorious should not become conquerors of the people.
For political office is not a license to oppress; it is a stewardship entrusted by God and the people.
The Apostle Paul reminds us:
«“For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
— Romans 13:1»
If authority ultimately comes under God’s sovereignty, then those who receive authority must exercise it with the fear of God.
MY PRAYER FOR OSUN
This morning, therefore, my prayer is not simply:
“May our preferred candidate win.”
My prayer is:
May Osun win.
May truth win.
May peace win.
May justice win.
May human life win.
May conscience win.
May righteousness win.
May those who have lost loved ones be comforted.
May those who have planned violence have a change of heart.
May security personnel protect lives without partisan bias.
May voters be free to exercise their civic responsibility without intimidation.
May political leaders remember that they are mortal.
And may the people of Osun refuse to allow politicians to turn brother against brother.
The Scripture says:
«“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9»
And again:
«“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
— Hebrews 12:14»
So, on this day of political contest, let every candidate, every party, every supporter and every citizen pause for a moment and ask:
If I win, what kind of Osun will I inherit?
If I lose, what kind of Osun will I leave behind?
And, above all:
When I stand before the Almighty God, what will I say about the lives that were lost in the pursuit of my political ambition?
For there will come a day when there will be no elections, no political parties, no campaigns, no rallies and no offices.
There will only be the Judgment Seat of God.
«“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:10»
On that day, political victory will have no meaning.
Only truth will matter.
Only righteousness will matter.
Only what we did with the lives God entrusted to us will matter.
May Osun choose life.
May Nigeria choose peace.
May our politics recover its humanity.
And may God Almighty have mercy upon all of us.
