Olubadan threatens legal action over reports linking him to APC
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has warned journalists and social media publishers against portraying him as a partisan traditional ruler, threatening legal action over reports he considers defamatory.
The monarch, through his media aide, Chief Adesola Oloko, reacted to reports suggesting that his recent reception of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, indicated an alignment with the party.
Yilwatda had visited the Olubadan’s palace after travelling to Ibadan to receive an honorary award from a university in the city. The palace said the visit was simply a courtesy call by the APC chairman to the traditional ruler.
Oloko explained that the Olubadan, as a traditional ruler, was obliged to receive visitors regardless of their political affiliations, stressing that such visits should not be interpreted as political endorsements.
He cited previous visits by prominent politicians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Governor Seyi Makinde, saying the monarch had always maintained an open-door policy.
“Olubadan is a father to all. If anybody from the party of the cassava logo, the umbrella or the broom, or anyone, comes to the Olubadan, he will attend to them as a royal father,” Oloko said.
He accused some online publishers of copying and republishing unverified reports without establishing their authenticity, urging journalists and social media users to verify information before publication.
Oloko warned that continued publication of reports capable of damaging the reputation of the Olubadan and the traditional institution could attract legal action, urging those responsible to desist from such reports.
