Disregard report of Olubadan’s illness, says palace

The Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has flayed the writer of a report claiming that the monarch had been in and out of hospital in recent times.

In a statement signed by Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oladele Ogunsola, the palace said the report was a mere fabrication for a sinister purpose by the author.

The media aide said that 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.

He said: “‘For the avoidance of doubt, Oba Lekan Balogun has been performing all his expected traditional and social roles since his ascension to the throne and where he could not owing to rowdy engagements, his members in the 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, leave out.

“For a journalist that is worth being called one, I wonder what other credible source could be outside of the palace spokesperson who readily obliges colleagues necessary information. 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 – hatchery job.”