The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has denied reports claiming he endorsed the presidential bid of an All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu.
Reports had emerged claiming the traditional ruler had endorsed the former Lagos governor last Thursday when he received a delegation of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju and Delta State for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the reports in a statement signed by the Head, Back Office Operations, Office of the Ogiame Atuwatse III, Oriiz U. Onuwaje, the monarch denied backing any presidential candidate.
He accused the writer of the report of trying to push a narrative contravening the Palace’s non-partisan status.
The statement reads, “On the instructions of His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III – The Olu of Warri; firmly rebut the statement claiming Ogiame’s endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and restates that Ogiame has no political affiliation or preferred political candidate for any office in the forthcoming 2023 elections be it at the regional, sub-national or national level.
“Ogiame is a father figure to all and has no personal favourite or special interests in any candidate or political party vying for any office in the forthcoming elections one way or another and will therefore not endorse or discredit any candidate to the detriment or advantage of others.
“The headlines credited to Ogiame in the referenced quotes have been taken out of context and reworked to suit a specific narrative. They cannot be further from the truth. For an unclear motive, the writer contravenes the Palace’s avowed role of non-partisanship.”
