Olubadan not flown abroad, says Palace

By Richard Thomas, Ibadan

The Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II has denied report that the monarch has been flown abroad for treatment over an alleged ill health.

Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oladele Ogunsola, also denied report that the Olubadan has been moving in and out of hospitals, describing it as concocted, wicked, baseless and unfounded lie.

“Before anybody could be reasonably said to be moving in and out of any place, it means such a person, at least must be found in such a place once or twice in a week and I don’t know of any hospital where such a record exists for the current Olubadan.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Oba Lekan Balogun has been performing all his expected traditional and social roles since his ascension to the throne in March this year and where he could not be due to crowded engagements, his members of Council (Olubadan-in-Council) have always been taking up such on his behalf.

“Though, the author claimed ‘Palace sources’, but, it amounts to recklessness and lack of respect for the ethics of journalism profession which enjoins the practitioner to investigate and ascertain the truth before rushing to the press and the ethics even says, when you are in doubt, you leave out.

“For a journalist that worth being called one, I wonder what other credible source could be outside of the palace spokesperson who readily obliges colleagues necessary information. What’s more, Kabiyesi himself has been a friend of the media for decades and his becoming Olubadan has not changed him a bit as far as his relationship with the media is concerned.

“So, except for mischief and undue sensationalism, the author has no basis to hid under ubiquitous ‘palace source’ to do his job except for a purpose- hatchet job. Just last Friday, the about 80 -year old man was in his Majesty at his ancestral ancient Aliiwo palace to promote the Chiefs in Iyalode line of the Olubadan traditional system.

“One cannot claim to be oblivious of the current trend of everybody becoming journalists without any form of training whatsoever and what they can only claim is just a possession of a handset. There is need for caution and mind what they dish out to earn people’s respect and commendation. In this instance, the author goofed and whatever might have been his imagination to come up with such wicked piece was not in good faith,” the statement said.