The Palace of the Oluwo of Iwoland has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that the monarch changed his citizenship to Saudi Arabia and rejected Yoruba culture.
In a rebuttal issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oluwo, Alli Ibraheem, on Thursday, the palace described the report as fabricated and urged members of the public to disregard it.
The statement clarified that the photograph attached to the viral story was taken during a courtesy visit by graduating students of Al-Medinah International School, Osogbo, to the Oluwo’s palace.
The palace also denied claims that the monarch wished Oduduwa had been born in Saudi Arabia, insisting that there was no truth in the allegation.
According to the statement, the report originated from bloggers seeking online traffic and financial gain through their monetised platforms, noting that no credible media organisation published the story.
The palace challenged those circulating the claim to produce any video showing the monarch making the alleged remarks.
It further stated that the false report was part of continued efforts by unnamed individuals to tarnish the image of the traditional ruler, alleging that previous attempts against the Oluwo had failed.
The statement maintained that the Oluwo remained committed to promoting Yoruba culture and traditions, describing him as a monarch dedicated to preserving the Yoruba heritage through his appearance, language and cultural practices.
Part of the statement reads, “I write to formally rebut a viral story credited to the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland that he purportedly changed his citizenship to Saudi Arabia and that he didn’t believe in Yoruba culture.
“The picture attached to the story was the image of the graduating students of Al- Medinah International School, Osogbo, at their courtesy visit to His Majesty’s palace.
“There was no element of truth that His Majesty wished or prefered Oduduwa to have been born in Saudi Arabia.
“Reasonable members of the public are enjoined to disregard the confabulated story, originated from confused bloggers who want to trend and make money from their monetized page. If you check the story, you can never see it on any credible media outfit. It’s awful to see educated people believing such. I challenge any of the peddlers to release the video of where Oluwo said so.
“Interestingly, we can not help the rumour mongers and their sponsors. They are pained because all their clandestine plans against Oluwo have failed. Oluwo has been their headache for years. They should continue wagging their tongues and hitting their phone buttons because of Oluwo. It’s the result of an answered prayer that they may not know peace should they fail to talk about Oluwo.
“Oluwo remains the leading monarch dedicating his throne to the promotion of unadulterated Yoruba culture and traditions. No Yorubaland monarchs wear a Yoruba cultural dress and appear traditional like him. He dances majestically Yoruba like abd promotes Yoruba Language like no other.”
