The traditional ruler, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has dismissed the report that he endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi for presidential seat in the forthcoming presidential election.
The traditional monarch has revealed that he did not endorse the presidential flagbearer, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The traditional king while falsifying the claim, described it as self concocted aimed at misleading the general public.
The Olubadan said: “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 Informant247 recalls that the presidential candidate alongside his campaign team visited the traditional ruler last week Saturday and was received by the palace.
In the meeting were prominent High Chiefs who received him and also prayed for him.
In the video which has gone viral, the High Chief could be seen showering prayer on the presidential candidate ahead of the presidential election.
“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 monarch added.