Olubadan denies endorsing Peter Obi for presidency

Oba Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, on Tuesday, kicks against the viral video currently making the rounds on social media.

The video revealed the moment the Olubadan of Ibadan endorsed the Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

The video was deemed fraudulent and self-concocted in order to deceive the general public by the king and members of his Advisory Council.

Last Saturday, the LP presidential candidate and some members of his advisory council paid the Olubadan a courtesy visit. They were there to welcome Obi to the monarch’s residence in Alarere residence in Ibadan.

In a viral video being widely circulated by Obi’s handlers, Chief Eddy Oyewole was seen praying for the success of the LP at the polls.

But reacting to the endorsement, the Olubadan, in a statement, said: “The attention of the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba 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 aimed at misleading Nigerians.

“The palace could have ignored the report and dismissed it with a wave of the 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, in his or her wildest 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, politicians are counseled to please leave the palace out of their game.”