Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, the Alapomu of Apomu in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State, has refuted claims made by a newspaper columnist labeling him a “warmonger” for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The monarch was responding to a Friday opinion piece titled “Apomu King Turns Warmonger for PDP,” which criticized a viral video showing him at a PDP empowerment event within his domain.
The columnist described the video as distasteful and shameful.
In a statement released by his media aide, Tolu Adetunji, Oba Afolabi dismissed the article as biased, prejudiced, and lacking in factual basis.
He emphasized that he is a man of peace and not a warmonger, pointing out that the article was an unbalanced opinion based solely on a video that he had already refuted in multiple national newspapers and online platforms.
“The article is a biased, prejudiced, subjective, one-sided opinion that is not grounded in facts but rather hinges on a video that the king has refuted in various national media outlets. The rebuttal was issued shortly after the video went viral nearly a week ago,” the statement read.
The monarch reiterated that the viral video was manipulated with the intent to tarnish his reputation. “Anyone who wishes to write or form an opinion about the video should approach it fairly and objectively by considering the king’s official response,” the statement added.
In his rebuttal, Oba Afolabi clarified that allegations of inciting electoral violence in Osun State were baseless and fabricated. According to the statement signed by his media aide, the video in question captured a speech he delivered at the flag-off of a road construction project in Apomu. The monarch firmly denied any suggestion that he encouraged PDP members to attack supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
“There is nowhere in the said video where I mentioned the 2027 election or the APC. The allegations are false and fabricated. I am a man of peace and do not support violence in any form or manner,” Oba Afolabi stated.
