The traditional ruler of Oworonshoki Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Babatunde Saliu, has refuted a media report published by an online newspaper, alleging that thugs working for the him attacked a pregnant woman and her fellow traditionalists over a traditional ritual in the kingdom.
In a statement issued and personally signed by Oba Saliu on Wednesday, the Oloworo vehemently denied the report, stating that it was entirely untrue and a gross misrepresentation of facts.
The monarch assured the public that he does not condone or employ thugs, and his kingdom has always promoted peace, unity and harmony among his subjects.
The report, he said, was a blatant attempt to tarnish his reputation and cause harm to his character, while urging the public to disregard the report and its contents, as it was a product of reckless journalism.
According to him, “As an educated king with a sound pedigree, I would never resort to violence or use thugs to harm my people. I heard a loud voice in front of my palace on June 3rd when some traditionalists walking to perform sacrifice holding horsetails on Sunday night and I stopped them.
“Which festival are you doing that you hold horsetails and walking on Sunday without informing the king? One of them said they are going to do sacrifice, I asked politely which sacrifice are you doing by this time without informing the king or any other traditional chiefs in the kingdom? I told them that the king should be informed if any sacrifice is to be offered, moreso, that shouldn’t be done at this time when people are still going about their normal business activities.
“I further told them that this is a community where children, elders and aged move about doing their various businesses. I called the Oworosoki Police Division to come, to interrogate them. After a while, I told the police to let them go and I entered my palace. It is, however, surprising where the information came from that I used thugs. As a respected and educated monarch, I don’t use thugs, I use appropriate authorities to handle my issue. The peace of my community is paramount,” he stated.
He added that, he has instructed his Solicitors to write a letter to the publisher of what he called ‘Libelous publication’ for the retraction of the same and to tender a public apology “to me which must be given a very wide coverage in the same way the libelous publication was given and that failure to do this, a petition to the Inspector General of Police for criminal and Cyber bullying under the Cybercrime Act and also sequel to same, a civil action will be filed against them for retraction of the public apology and for damages as there is no justification for the libelous publication.”
Promising that he remained committed to the welfare and well being of all his subjects at Oworonshoki in Kosofe local government area of Lagos State, he pledged to continue to uphold the values, traditions, peace and unity of the community.