Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has explained that the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness, Rilwan Akiolu was not “readily available” when he requested to pay him a visit during his recent mega rally in Nigeria’s economic capital.
Obi made this known during a recent interview on Channels Television’s special election programme, The 2023 Verdict.
He said: “On my arrival in Lagos, I did ask that I wanted to visit the Oba whom I regard as a father figure,”
It is normal for presidential candidates to visit first-class traditional rulers when they campaign in their states but controversy has trailed Obi’s inability to meet the Lagos monarch during his rally in the state.
While talking further during the programme, Obi said the reports that Oba Akiolu refused to see him were untrue.
He said what happened in Lagos wasn’t abnormal as it had happened during his planned visits to traditional rulers in some states he had campaigned. According to him, one or two Kings were not readily available to receive him in the past but they scheduled future dates.
He said, “Some even say, ‘Oh, he (Oba of Lagos) refused to see me’. It is not true.
“The truth is that when we arrived, we wanted to do what we want to do: arrive and drive to the palace and see the Oba but we were told that he is not readily available and that we should apply and come at some other date and that we intend to do because he remains a highly respected father to me and to the entire nation.”
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