Zainab Abioye
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has threatened legal action against journalists and social media bloggers who publish what he described as false or defamatory reports about him and the Olubadan stool.
The monarch, through his Media Aide, Chief Adesola Oloko, issued the warning following reports on social media alleging that the monarch had become partisan after receiving the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, at his palace in Ibadan.
Oloko, in a statement on Sunday, said Yilwatda’s visit was purely a courtesy call and had nothing to do with partisan politics.
He explained that the APC chairman visited the Olubadan after travelling to Ibadan to receive an honorary award from a university in the city.
According to him, the APC national chairman considered it appropriate to pay homage to the Olubadan as a traditional ruler before returning from Ibadan.
Oloko said, “Anytime the Olubadan is chanced, he can attend to anybody and any visitor from within or outside Ibadan or Oyo State that visits him.
“About a week ago, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, came to Ibadan. He came to receive an honorary award in one university in Ibadan and he thought it wise to pay a courtesy visit to the Olubadan.
“That is how he does anywhere he goes. Kabiyesi gave him the chance to visit him and his Olubadan-in-Council members. He told Kabiyesi that he was given an award in one of the universities in Ibadan and he felt it an honour to pay respect to the Olubadan by paying him a courtesy visit.”
The media aide condemned reports suggesting that the monarch had joined or aligned with a political party, describing them as attempts to damage the reputation of the traditional institution.
He stressed that the Olubadan remained a father to all political parties and would continue to receive politicians and other prominent Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations.
Oloko cited previous visits by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to the Olubadan as examples of the monarch’s non-partisan approach.
He also noted that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, regarded as a son of the Olubadan, could visit the palace at any time.
He said, “Some young reporters then started writing that Kabiyesi has joined a political party and started disparaging him.
“Whatever you don’t know or are not sure of, don’t write it. What they should know is that Olubadan is a father to all.
“If anybody from the party of cassava logo or that of umbrella or broom, or anyone, comes to the Olubadan, he will attend to them as a royal father.”
Oloko further criticised what he described as the proliferation of unverified reports on social media, alleging that some bloggers merely copy and republish stories without independently verifying the claims.
He warned that such practices could expose both the writers and the media organisations behind them to legal consequences.
“Just as NBC regulates broadcast stations, there is something they call the law of libel for newspapers. Social Media is now full of young ones that did not go to proper school or were not trained in the art of journalism, who now write rubbish in newspapers.
“If you see the pattern of how they write such stories, you will find out that one of them will write it and a horde of others among them will just copy it and start to repost it.
“It could be assumed that some people are contracting them to do such hatchet jobs,” he said.
The Olubadan’s aide urged journalists and bloggers to adhere to professional standards, verify information before publication and refrain from attributing political motives to routine palace engagements.
He added, “I am now using this medium to tell such people to desist from denigrating the integrity and personality of Olubadan.
“I want to use this opportunity to warn all those writing such rubbish to desist or anyone of them could be sued and taken to court, and the consequence will not be palatable.”
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