The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II, has denied endorsing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, for president in the 2023 general elections.
In a statement on Tuesday, the monarch and his members of Advisory Council said that claims of endorsement of the candidate were not factual.
Recall that Obi led his campaign team to pay a courtesy visit on the Olubadan last Saturday and some of the members of the monarch’s Advisory Council joined to receive the team at his Alarere residence.
Some of the present 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.
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But in a viral video being widely circulated by Obi’s handlers, High Chief Oyewole was seen praying for the success of the LP at the polls, prompting reports that the monarch and his advisory council endorsed the LP flagbearer’s candidacy.
But the palace’s statement read, “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 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi by the monarch and his members of Advisory Council, a claim described as false and self concocted one to mislead the general public.
“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 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.”
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