The Olubadan Palace has disowned and distanced itself from a reported endorsement of a senatorial candidate in Oyo State by Prince Femi Balogun, the first son of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II.
The Palace also frowns at the dragging of the exalted throne into such personal and unguarded visit and endorsement by a member of the family, using the name of Olubadan.
The son of Olubadan was reported to had, on Sunday, visited and endorsed Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 senatorial election in Oyo South Senatorial District.
However, the Olubadan Palace disowned the reported endorsement of the PDP senatorial candidate, describing it as a private and personal affair of Femi, having no blessings from the Palace.
The denial of the purported endorsement was contained in a statement released by the Olubadan Palace, through the media aide to Oba Balogun, Mr. Oladele Ogunsola, and which was made available to newsmen on Monday.
“The purported visitation of Femi Balogun, son of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Sen.) Lekan Balogun, to his school mate and a politician in the state, Mr. Olasunkanmi Tegbe, is a private and personal affair of Femi and has no blessings of the Olubadan palace.
“Femi, the Aremo Olubadan, was alleged to have endorsed the senatorial ambition of Tegbe during the visit, a position which is at variance with that of the Aliiwo Dynasty where the current Olubadan hails from.
“The Palace distances itself from the purported visit and endorsement of Tegbe by Femi and condemns such in view of the fact that the Aliiwo Dynasty which today sits on Ibadan throne also has a son, who currently serves as senator in the same senatorial district in person of Senator Kola Balogun and who still wishes to serve another term.
“As much as nobody can prevent Femi, being an adult, from holding a personal political view and democracy enjoins freedom of choice, the Palace frowns at the dragging of the exalted throne into such personal and unguarded visit and endorsement by a member of the family using the name of Olubadan.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the palace wishes to let the whole public know that Femi was not sent on such an errand and nobody in the palace would dare do such because Olubadan remains the father of all.
“From all intent and purposes, he was on his own and his purported message carries no blessings of the Olubadan palace,” Olubadan spokesperson added in the statement.
