COVID-19: Olubadan Suspends Chieftaincy Promotion, Other Palace Activities

As part of measures to combat COVID-19 spread in Oyo state, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has suspended Chieftaincy promotion exercise and other palace activities.

In a statement issued by the palace media director, Adeola Oloko, the monarch cautioned the people not to take chances with their health, hoping that coronavirus would fizzle out just as the cases during the Ebola outbreak, Avian flu and Lassa fever.

Oba Adetunji advised them to comply with instructions and other precautionary measures which include the stay-at-home order, social distancing, regular hand washing, avoidance of overcrowding, self-isolation, doing away with handshake and prompt reporting of COVID-19-related symptoms to the appropriate quarters.

“I cautioned the people not to take chances with their health by complying with instructions and other precautionary measures which include the stay-at-home order, social distancing, regular hand washing, avoidance of overcrowding, self-isolation, doing away with handshake and prompt reporting of COVID-19-related symptoms to the appropriate quarters.”

It added that people should not panic, noting that government was doing its best to curtail the spread of the virus. It further stressed that as was the case during the Ebola outbreak, Avian flu and Lassa fever, coronavirus would fizzle out.

“If it (the virus) must go as quickly as possible, we need to comply with all directives. Even in the Olubadan palace, we have suspended palace activities over the past one and a half weeks.

“Courtesy visits have been cancelled. Land cases have been postponed. Chieftaincy promotion exercise that ought to take place in a stretch of three weeks have been put on hold and the Olubadan-in-Council members and affected chiefs have been duly informed about it as far back as two weeks ago. We wish we could do more as health is wealth.”

The palace said it has distributed food items and hand sanitisers in some communities in the city, including Popoyemoja, Alaadorin, Akuro, Ita Aregbe-omo, and Gbodu.

According to the statement, the gesture was in a bid to cushion the effect of the suspension of large gatherings by the state government.