The Chief of Staff to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Princess Olayinka Balogun, has debunked a report credited to the monarch on threat to disown any of his children or wives found to be involved in the allegation of financial impropriety against his brother, Senator Kola Balogun.
The Princess, who was reacting to a report published on Page 8 of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper, dated October 3 with the headline ‘Olubadan threatens to disown children, wives over financial allegations against brother’, and some other online media platforms, said it was mere falsehood.
She frowned at the publication which, according to her, was ridiculous and malicious, noting that it was published to spite the Olubadan throne and some members of the Olubadan’s nuclear family.
Referring to a 4-page letter written by Prince Femi Balogun to Senator Kola Balogun, she said Prince Femi only asked that funds received into the Palace should be properly accounted for.
In the exact words of the Monarch, he was quoted to have said: “I have never said any such thing in my life about my children. The thought has never crossed my mind. Is it now at this stage of my life that I would think that? …for what reason and because of who? I have wonderful children. I love my children and my children love me. I could not believe anyone would be malicious enough to publish such falsehood. Despite the differences between my brother and I over the years, I have never threatened to disown him, how much more, my own children? My children are mine.”
According to Princess Olayinka Balogun, the malicious publication was a result of an ongoing efforts being made for better administration, transparency and accountability in running the Palace.
She noted that in an attempt to encourage and introduce transparency and accountability into the running of the Palace, the Aremo (first son) to the Olubadan, Prince Olufemi Balogun, requested a detailed submission on the assets and liabilities of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Olalekan Balogun. Aremo also requested that a statement of funds received be submitted to His Imperial Majesty regularly for record keeping.
She claimed that, in the past, there had been stories about people receiving funds in the name of Olubadan, that His Imperial Majesty was not aware of.
She clarified that Prince Olufemi was only making efforts to encourage and introduce transparency, accountability into the running of the Palace, which made the Aremo (first son) to the Olubadan, Prince Olufemi Balogun, request for a financial statement for His Imperial Majesty, Oba Olalekan Balogun.
“As the father to all, Olubadan has adopted many as his children. Oba Olalekan Balogun finds the recent stories making the rounds that he would consider disowning his own biological children, absolutely ridiculous.
“The fact that anyone would be malicious enough to publish such falsehood is evidence of desperation beyond the imagination. The spiteful publication was a result of an ongoing issue. In an attempt to encourage and introduce transparency and accountability into the running of the Palace, the Aremo (first son) to the Olubadan, Prince Olufemi Balogun, requested a detailed financial submission,” Princess Balogun said.
She added: “In a 4-page letter written by Prince Femi Balogun to Senator Kola Balogun, Prince Femi asked that funds received into the Palace should be accounted for. Instead of receiving the response to his enquiry or a reason why the accounts could not be made available, the response was media onslaught and via a series of online, radio and paper publications, claiming His Imperial Majesty had threatened to disown his children and wives, if they continued to demand accountability from Senator Kola Balogun.
“This attitude is at the core of our problems as a nation. Some people feel they should not be questioned or held accountable. Charity, they say, begins at home, and a person who refuses to be accountable within a small group will not be accountable if entrusted with public funds or public office.”
Further corroborating the matter, Princess Olayinka Balogun, maintained that the media have a responsibility to only disseminate verified reports to the public. She equally demanded retraction or a public apology from the media houses and online platforms that have published the malicious report.
“His Imperial Majesty, Oba Olalekan Mohood Ishola Balogun did not threaten to disown any of his children or wives, nor would he ever think of doing so. Members of the public should kindly disregard all such malicious publications. Any media houses that have published this falsehood must endeavour to delete it from public space.
“As not just his Chief of Staff but also as his daughter, I confidently and categorically say that my father is not that kind of man. The language and writing style of those online publications did not come from my father. I take this opportunity to call on the media to try to uphold better standards. In a world where mischief and fake news are rife, the media have a responsibility to ensure the news they disseminate is verified and confirmed,” she stated.
While describing the monarch as someone who has always tried to uphold accountability alongside responsibility, she said Oba Balogun has been a champion of fairness, equity and justice, and those principles are the same ones being called upon now in the running of his affairs.
She explained that destroying those principles at this stage will be the destruction of his legacy, adding that Prince Femi is well within his right to demand accountability.
“A lack of accountability is the bane of Nigeria. Some people are of the belief that they are too big to be questioned or held accountable. As an accountant, my career has been based on accountability. I will not throw those standards away now, simply because a small group of people are struggling with the realisation that accountability is one of the first principles for efficiency and development in society. Resistance to better practice is expected from certain quarters, especially from those who have been the beneficiaries of chaos and lack of accountability, but we must all continue to press on nonetheless. If we get it right within our small group, so will others, and so will Nigeria. So help us God and may the effort of our heroes past not be in vain.”
“Holding people accountable is a culture we need to embrace as a society. A custodian of the finances of an individual, organisation or government should be willing to give account. Accountability should be a basic obligation. A leader should be open to serving,” she concluded.
