The palace of the Olu of Agboyi kingdom has discountenanced a statement issued by the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Dele Oshinowo, accusing the monarch, Oba Monsuru Oladega of complicit in an alleged assault on the chairman during a recent private visit to his palace.
A statement issued by the office of the council chairman, entitled “Setting the record straight” had described the incident as a provoked confrontation orchestrated by the monarch’s younger brother, Prince Ibrahim Kehinde Oladega.
The statement also described the visit to the palace as a formal political visit as part of the pre-election engagements with critical stakeholders meant to introduce local council candidates of the APC to traditional rulers with Oshinowo being the head of the delegation, reports The Nation.
The statement said that the palace is enabling a pattern of harassment by its failure to reprimand Prince Oladega for his conduct.
The statement described the confrontation as a blatant power play by Oladega which undermined party structure and democratic principles. It expatiated further that Oladega tried to deny key members of the delegation entry to the monarch’s chamber, during which Oshinowo, who attempted to intervene was allegedly assaulted by Oladega, who slapped him.
However, a statement released by the palace of the monarch blamed Oshinowo for breach of palace protocols and unruly behavior during the visit.
The statement signed by the Akogun of Agboyi Kingdom, Chief E.B.O Ogunseye, described Oshinowo’s account of the incident as misleading narratives and that the monarch’s composure while the incident lasted was misconstrued as silence.
The palace explained that the council chairman was not listed among the chairmanship candidate’s delegation to the monarch and that the demand of a five-member delegation to the private quarters of the monarch was breached by Oshinowo leading to the altercation with Prince Oladega, when he drew the chairman’s attention to the breach in the palace traditional protocols.
The statement reads: ‘’The Palace of Olu Agboyi Kingdom has noted with concern the recent remarks by Prince Ibrahim Oladega and the Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Mayor Dele Oshinowo, regarding an incident at the palace. While we typically avoid public exchanges, the dissemination of inaccuracies compels us to present the facts for the sake of truth and communal harmony.
‘”It should be noted that the visit of Mrs. Tolani Abubakar-Oyedele was intended to be a private one, with no more than five guests expected and was spearheaded by Prince Oladega Ibrahim Kehinde a task personally given to him by the chairmanship candidate of the APC. The incumbent chairman (Oshinowo) was not listed among the expected attendees; neither does anyone have the right to badge into the private quarters of the king except if invited by the palace guard. However, the palace would have made arrangements to receive the executive chairman, as is customary.
‘’The Olu Agboyi’s composure was misinterpreted as silence; His Royal Majesty embodies wisdom and neutrality. His deliberate restraint during the altercation was a strategic effort to de-escalate tensions and ensure due process, not indifference. Misrepresenting this dignified composure undermines the reverence owed to the throne.
“In the absence of the Olu of Agboyi’s aides, Prince Ladega, as a senior royal family member and a worthy prince of the kingdom acted within his authority to uphold decorum when unannounced guests breached protocol, particularly by encroaching on the Olu’s private quarters (Iyewu). While the duty to safeguard the sanctity of the palace remains undisputed, His Majesty and the Chiefs unequivocally condemned the retaliation against the Chairman (Oshinowo). The initial attack on the Prince was shameful and entirely unbefitting of a public office holder. We also denounced the subsequent exchange of slaps involving the Prince (Oladega), as it is a grave taboo to strike royalty within the palace grounds.”
