The Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has debunked an insinuation that he has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, for the 2023 elections.
This was in reaction to a video clip in circulation, portraying the traditional ruler and members of the Olubadan Advisory Council as having endorsed Obi for the elections.
The Palace of the Olubadan, in a statement by the media aide, Mr Oladele Ogunsola, said the reported endorsement was “false and self-concocted one to mislead the general public.”
The Palace recalled that Obi his campaign train on courtesy visit on the Olubadan at his Alarere residence, last Saturday, where he was received by the traditional ruler and some members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
It further stated that the reception by the Olubadan and the prayers offered by one of the high chiefs does not translate into an endorsement of the LP presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
The Palace restated that the Olubadan is a father to all politicians, adding that he and his chiefs cannot openly endorse the ambition of any politician, irrespective of any political party he or she belongs to.
“The attention of the Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II has been drawn to the claim of endorsement of the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, by the monarch and his members of Advisory Council, a claim that is false and a self-concocted one to mislead the general public.
“It would be recalled that the LP presidential candidate led his campaign team to pay courtesy visit on Olubadan, last Saturday and some of the members of his Advisory Council joined to receive the August visitor at the Alarere residence of the monarch.
“The attendees among the High Chiefs were Balogun of Ibadanland, his Otun, Osi, Ashipa, and Ekerin Olubadan namely, High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Kola Adegbola, Eddy Oyewole and Hamidu Ajibade, respectively.
“While High Chief Ajibola responded to the campaign speech made by Peter Obi, High Chief Oyewole offered prayers for him on his ambition.
“In the offensive video being widely circulated by Obi’s handlers, High Chief Oyewole was seeing praying for the success of the party at the polls.
“One cannot but wonder how did that become an endorsement or are Peter Obi’s sympathizers looking forward to the Palace cursing him? God forbid.
“The Palace could have ignored the report and dismissed it with a wave of hand, but with the torrents of inquiries by some of our credible media houses seeking clarification before publishing and the need to counter social media trending of the foul report without professional touch, this reaction becomes imperative.
“How could anybody would have in his or her widest imagination assume that a presidential candidate of any political party would receive an open endorsement from a place like the Palace of Olubadan?
“That must be a crude joke carried too far. It is preposterous, to say the least,” it was stated in the statement.
The Palace further stated: “While discountenancing the claim of endorsement by the Olubadan Advisory Council, our politicians are counseled to please leave the Palace out of their game.
“The campaign is just starting and the visits to the palaces are part of the itinerary of the candidates. How would they feel should the gates of palaces be locked against them?
“For the umpteenth time, let it be emphasised that Olubadan and his cabinet members do not and cannot belong to any political party. They would never express preference for any candidate or political party in the public, no matter the degree of temptation.
“The Palace of Olubadan belongs to all just as the occupier of the exalted stool remains father of all as well.”
The media aide of the Olubadan, however commended the media practitioners who sought for clarification on the contentious video. He also admonished social media handlers to verify their information before pushing out such into the public space.
“In the meantime, I commend my professional colleagues and their respective media houses who saw the oddity in such claim and sought for further clarifications following their putting the report in abeyance.
“I also appeal to the social media handlers to always think twice before rushing out with report as the season we are in presently does not call for undue sensationalism,” Ogunsola added.
