BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN-ALAAFIN of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has dismissed insinuations that he passed on last Saturday the day he turned 75 years. He described the rumour as “a blatant lie”.

The rumour had spread like a wide fire claiming that the palace was just trying to cover his death even as it was posted on the social networks that the monarch had joined his ancestors.

Though, earlier calls to his phones were not answered as all his phones were switched off, the monarch later spoke from his palace yesterday that he was hale and hearty.

He said, “Nothing bad has happened to me and it will not happen in Allah’s name. That is their wish, but I remain hale and hearty. I am in my palace as I am talking to you. I was in Ibadan yesterday (Monday). So, thank you for your concern”.

Before the monarch made the clarification, rumors were on that Alaafin fell ill and joined his ancestors on Saturday.

Worried by several calls to clarify if the monarch was still alive or not, the personal assistant to the monarch, Mr. Azeez Fehintola insisted that the Alaafin was alive.

When Fehintola could no longer control the influx of the calls, he went to the palace to make the monarch talk to newsmen to calm the growing apprehension over the royal father’s health.

Alaafin said, the rumour was hatched by his adversaries who wished him dead but, he said, Allah would never grant their evil wish.

Oba Adeyemi turned 75 last Saturday and probably people expected Oba Adeyemi who turned 75 last Saturday to celebrate lavishly, which he did not, they now insinuated that the monarch was no longer alive.