Insinuations about the whereabouts of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, were on Thursday laid to rest by the President of Osogbo Progressives Union, Justice Kunle Adeigbe (retd), who said the monarch was only invited by the police, but not detained by the law enforcement agency as being rumoured.
OPU is the flagship organisation for indigenes of Osogbo, Osun State Capital, and it has branches across the country and beyond.
Social media had been awash with many insinuations about the whereabouts of the traditional ruler, who reportedly had been out of his palace since Wednesday.
Although none of those who commented on the issue on social media appear to have clear knowledge of the issue involved, they claimed the monarch was being detained by the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The issue also dominated exchanges between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress on the social media for the better part of Thursday.
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Several sources close to the monarch had refused to comment on record when they were approached, but some of them confirmed that the royal father has been out of the state since Wednesday.
However, when contacted on Thursday for reaction to Ataoja’s whereabouts, the OPC National President, Justice Adeigbe, said the monarch was actually invited by the police over a petition against him, adding that he was never detained.
Adeigbe, in a text message in response to inquiry by our correspondent, further said, “It’s untrue that His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi, Ataoja of Osogboland is being held in Abuja by the Police.
“The truth is that the Ataoja was invited to Abuja to clear himself of some allegations contained in a petition to the police against him, just like anybody can be invited by the police on any alleged allegation.
“The Ataoja is now already on his way back to Osogbo from his trip to the federal capital where he went only yesterday. I can confirm to you that Ataoja is not being detained in Abuja as you are reading on social media.”
