The claim that the Olubadan Of Ibadan land and his members of the Advisory Council have endorsed the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has caught the attention of the palace and the monarch , Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II.
This claim has been characterized as false and self-concocted in an effort to mislead the general public.
Recall that last Saturday, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi paid Olubadan a courtesy visit and some of Olubadan’s Advisory Council members were there to welcome the August visitor to the monarch’s Alarere residence.
The attendees among the High Chiefs were Balogun of Ibadanland, his Otun, Osi, Ashipa, Osi 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.
According to Olubadan’s media aide, Mr Ogunsola, One cannot help but wonder how High Chief Oyewole’s appearance in the offensive video that Obi’s handlers are disseminating widely came to be seen praying for the party’s electoral success. Or, are Peter Obi’s supporters eagerly anticipating the palace cursing him? Please, no.
“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 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.
“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 and how would they feel should the gates of palaces be locked against them?
“For the umpteenth time, let it be emphasized that Olubadan and his cabinet members do not and cannot belong to any political party and 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.
“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”, the statement added.
