The Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, has denied an allegation that he sent thugs to harass deposed monarch of the community, Adebanjo Mafimisebi.
He said that it was unreasonable for him as the chairman of Ondo State Council of Obas and current chairman, Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Council, to be involved directly or indirectly in an attack on the home of one of his subjects.
Last week, hoodlums allegedly acting on the prompting of Oba Akinruntan, killed a seven-year old boy identified as Marvelous Akintubuwa and threw his body into a river during an attack on the home of the deposed Olugbo of Ugbo.
The hoodlums were alleged to have beaten up occupants in the house, including the former Olori of the deposed monarch.
Belongings in the building were alleged to have been set ablaze by the hoodlums. Residents who tried to stop them were beaten up, it was learnt.
Oba Akinruntan, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Adeoye Adebayo, said it was wrong for anyone to link the Olugbo to what he described as an absurdity.
The monarch said he was too busy and sophisticated to think, plan or instigate attack on any of his subjects.
He noted that the residence was among the ancestral homes of any reigning and incumbent Olugbo of Ugboland and the place where traditional rites were performed.
“The residence has been in existence long before the short reign of the deposed monarch. How then can the same residence be claimed to have been owned by the deposed monarch?
“The deposed monarch vacated the residence since 2007 by the order of the Supreme Court that ousted him and traditional rites have always been done there.
“His Imperial Majesty recently visited the residence to distribute food items and cash worth millions of naira as palliatives to the sons and daughters of Ugboland as COVID-19 emergency food relief. Could Kabiyesi have made use of this residence as distribution centre with the deposed monarch as an occupier?
“It is important to say that the people of Ugboland are at home with the monarch and he cannot be painted as being at war with his subjects as represented in the publications.
“The alleged attack on the deposed monarch never took place because the residence in question does not belong to the deposed monarch, neither does he occupy it, but belongs to the Olugbo of Ugboland, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Obateru Akinruntan,” the statement said.

By Osagie Otabor