The burial of the late Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabanjo, wife of Ogun State’s first civilian governor, has stirred controversy over alleged seating arrangements. However, Faleye insists that blaming former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel is wrong. Daniel attended the service to pay his respects and sat in a seat clearly assigned to him. He had no involvement in decisions about where others, including Senator Iyiola Omisore or the Head of Service, would sit.

Eyewitnesses confirm that Omisore was already seated before Daniel arrived, and any subsequent changes in seating were independent of Daniel. Faleye criticizes the viral narratives that have dragged Daniel’s name into a situation where he had no role, describing it as an example of opportunistic storytelling that prioritizes political point-scoring over truth.

The situation highlights a broader problem with protocol management at public events in Ogun State. Misunderstandings or deliberate mismanagement of seating arrangements have repeatedly created unnecessary controversies. Faleye notes that such lapses risk alienating respected public figures who deserve proper recognition and may cause them to withdraw from attending important state functions in the future.

Ultimately, Faleye calls for restraint in public discourse and urges organizers to handle protocol seriously. Funerals and other solemn gatherings should focus on honoring the deceased, not creating political narratives. Daniel’s only action at the Onabanjo burial was attending and sitting where directed, and no inference should be made beyond that.