Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation (KOOOF), a Yoruba organisation, has asked controversial musician, Portable, to tender an immediate unreserved apology for alleged malicious defamation of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
The Foundation described as malicious defamation the comments Portable made in a video he released on the social media in which he claimed that he was the one paying the school fees of the child born by Queen Dammy to the late Alaafin.
Portable, whose real name is Okikiola Badmus, had, last week, released a video on the social media in which he described his estranged girlfriend and a former wife of the late Alaafin, Queen Dammy, in many unprintable words.
Apart from calling Queen Dammy a prostitute, he had also accused her of being responsible for the death, in April 2022, of the foremost Yoruba traditional ruler.
Reacting, however, KOOOF, in a release on Monday by its chairman, Asiwaju Olú Mayungbe, described the comments by the erratic musician as a malicious defamation of the late Alaafin of Oyo.
The Foundation stated that the claims by Portable in the video were not only frivolous and preposterous, but also damaging to Yoruba anthropology and culture.
KOOOF alleged that the claims by the musician have brought disrespect to the highly revered late Yoruba royal father and his family.
It therefore demanded for an unreserved apology from Portable and also for an immediate retraction of the defamatory video from all his social media platforms.
KOOOF also threatened that, failure by Portable to comply with its demands may lead to further action, noting that the video has the potential to cause unrest in Nigeria, particularly in the South-West.
“The Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation (KOOOF) strongly condemns the recent video released by Okikiola Badmus, also known as Portable, which contains malicious and defamatory statements against his girlfriend, Queen Dammy, the estranged wife of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi Ill.
“Portable’s claims in the video are not only frivolous, egregious and preposterous, but also damaging to Yoruba anthropology and culture. His statements have brought disrespect to the highly revered late Yoruba royal father and his family.
“We demand that Portable immediately tender an unreserved apology to the Yoruba people, kings, Alaafin’s chiefs, the Oyomesis and family members on all social media platforms and newspapers; and
“Withdraw the defamatory video from all his social media networks [platforms].
“Failure to comply with these demands may lead to further action. Portable’s video has the potential to cause unrest in Nigeria, particularly in the South-Western region,” the KOOOF chairman stated in the release.
The Foundation also urged the appropriate Nigerian authorities to take necessary action against Portable for his malicious and defamatory statements.
“The Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation [KOOOF] will continue to promote and protect Yoruba culture, tradition and heritage,” it assured.
