Mufutau Gbadamosi, the Olofa of Offa, has said his traditional title was wrongly associated with ‘political intrigues’ by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the leaked audio, which has continued to generate discourse on social media. 

“Our attention has been drawn to a leaked audio conversation between the Labour Party Presidential Candidate His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, and the General Overseer of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) Bishop David Oyedepo which is making the rounds on the internet, and the insinuations from the so-called “exclusive” tape where the name of our royal father was mentioned and wrongly associated with the political mudslinging and intrigues.

“It is pertinent to state here that the throne of Offa Kingdom is a sacred and revered stool which should not be desecrated on the altar of political shenanigans and disinformation,” Mr Gbadamosi said in a scanty message signed by his principal private secretary, Olayinka Kadri, on Monday. 

The traditional rule reacted as the audio file, between Messrs Obi and Oyedepo, continues to generate reactions. 

Peoples Gazette had released a leaked audio file between Messrs Obi and Oyedepo, where the former Anambra governor was asking for a push – over other candidates – in the just concluded February 25 election.

In the recorded audio file, the LP candidate was also imploring Mr Oyedepo – believed to be controlling a large section of Christian domination in the Southwest region of the country, to speak to his “people,” especially those in the central states of Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states. 

“This is a religious war”, Mr Obi retorted in the audio leak which has attracted nationwide outrage and condemnation. 

He particularly said he had visited Kwara – where he was told by “Olofa” that no presidential candidate had visited the throne since the campaign began for the polls. 

“I went to Kwara and visited Olofa of Offa who told me that nobody had ever come here, with you no problem but the Christian community in Kwara and Niger, and I am also working in Kogi same way,” Mr Obi exposed in the audio, published by The Gazette. 

Mr Oyedepo hails from Omu Aran, in Irepodun Local Council Area of Kwara. 

The town shares a boundary with Offa. 

Positing further in his statement, Mr Gbadamosi said he had continued to remain a father to all, respective of religion and ethnicity. 

He added that his desire for unity, peace, and progress of the country was “unassailable”.

“The Olofa of Offa, who is a highly respected first-class monarch in Kwara state, is father to all irrespective of your religious, ethnic, or tribal colouration.

“We hereby condemn this malicious and mischievous anecdote aimed at discrediting the revered stool of the headquarters of Ibolo Kingdom and advise the general public and mischief makers to refrain forthwith from unguarded manipulation of facts and disinformation.

“HRM Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi Ajagungbade I Esuwoye II has always welcomed everyone to his domain irrespective of their status with open arms and felicitations, and would continue to do so,” he added in the statement.  

On Sunday, Mr Oyedepo in an attempt to slide away from the audio leak, denied campaigning for any politician that had visited him at his Church congregation located in the Ota area of Ogun. 

He noted that the politicians only came from different political parties for prayers and advice before the election. 

The cleric said he advised some of the politicians who heeded his call while those who refused to listen are still going about after seeing the results of the polls. 

“I advised them, some, they don’t take. Those who chose to take they see results; those who said no are still going about it. If you still come again, I will still tell you, nothing will change,” Mr Oyedepo said.