Connect with us

News

Ooni Is Too Focused On Important Issues, Has Not Appointed Anyone As Okanlomo Of Yorubaland – Oore Of Moba

Published

on

The Oore of Otun-Ekiti and paramount ruler of Mobaland House, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, has debunked reports that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, appointed anybody as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

The Oore of Moba, while stating that Ooni does have the power to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, said the traditional ruler has not made such an appointment.

It was  reports that the position comes in response to the purported appointment of a businessman, Dotun Sanusi, as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

However, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, on Monday gave the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, 48 hours to revoke the chieftaincy title reportedly conferred on the businessman.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch asserted that the Ooni lacks the exclusive right to confer the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on the businessman.

He fumed that the Ooni’s action challenged his authority, adding that the exclusive right to confer titles that extend across Yorubaland rests solely with the Alaafin.

He explained that the Ooni’s instrument of office confines his authority to the Oranmiyan Local Government, which has since been divided into Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South.

Owoade, therefore, demanded the revocation of the title within 48 hours, warning that failure to comply would attract consequences.

Reacting to the saga, the Oore of Moba, in a statement on Tuesday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Akogun Banjo Ayinde, said the powers of the Ooni transcend beyond the shores of Yorubaland into the wider African space.

He added that while the Ooni has not even conceived the idea, let alone install anybody as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland, it is well within the powers of the monarch to do so.

The traditional ruler noted that Ooni, as the natural father of the Yoruba race and spiritual head of the Odùduwà race worldwide, has carried out only three official territorial chieftaincy installations since assuming the throne, namely, The Odole Oodua, Iyalaje OODUA and Yeye Oodua, all deeply rooted in spiritual and ancestral imperatives, which were bestowed on Sir Dr Adebutu Kensington, Princess Dr Toyin KOLADE and Erelu Abiola Dosumu, respectively.

He called for an end to the unnecessary battle for dominance and rather promoted peace, unity, and prosperity across Yorubaland and beyond.

The full statement reads: “The attention of the Adimula Oloore Oodua, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, the Oore of Otun-Ekiti and paramount ruler of Mobaland House of on the media attack by the Alaafin’s palace on the House of Odùduwà, which transcends beyond the shores of Yorubaland into the wider African space, cutting across the Itsekiri in Delta State, Benin Kingdom, Ga tribe in Accra Ghana, Ashante Kingdom of Kumasi, Ghana as well as the LUO tribe in Uganda, Ga-Adangbe tribe in Ghana, and many more, in which the Arole Odùduwà Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, D.Litt, CFR, Ojaja II, that Ooni does not have the power to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ooni has never conceived it, talk less of installing anybody as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland. We therefore challenge anyone with verifiable evidence that Ooni has traditionally or culturally installed such a title on anyone to present it to the public.

“It is important to note that as the Natural Father of the Yoruba race and spiritual head of Odùduwà race worldwide, the Ooni wields unequivocal authority to bestow titles of territorial relevance if and when necessary. However, His Majesty’s vision and preoccupation are far greater than minor chieftaincy titles. His focus rests on the larger task of unifying our people across Nigeria and Africa who trace their origin to Ilé-Ifẹ̀ for peace, progress, and development that far transcend such narrow contestations.

“Since ascending the throne of Odùduwà, Ooni has carried out only three official territorial chieftaincy installations namely; The Odole Oodua, Iyalaje OODUA and Yeye Oodua all deeply rooted in spiritual and ancestral imperatives, which Baba Ooni had bestowed on Sir Dr Adebutu Kensington, Princess Dr Toyin KOLADE and Erelu Abiola Dosumu respectively.

“Our father Ooni, revered not merely as a king but as a deity across the Oduduwa race of which Yoruba is a notable section, does not distribute titles frivolously.Apart from the proposed Ojaja Smart City, Ibadan, the biggest in Africa which will provide not less than 20000 jobs, Ooni has already established Inagbe Grand Resort in Lagos, Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Hub in Ile-Ife, Ojaja University in Ilorin, Kwara state, Ojajamoore and Ojaja Park and Hotels in Akure, OjajaMoore in Ede, Ile-Ife and Osogbo in Osun creating over 5000 direct jobs for Yoruba youths. He is also constructing a massive Ojaja Park in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state. That is leadership.

“We must put a clear end to the fruitless struggle for emperorship ; an idea long eroded by constitutional democracy. Where are the great empires of Shongai, Mali of Mansa Musa, Roman empires, Othman empires and others today? Those eras of conquering territories through invasion by gorrilarism are gone. If anyone must wage war over territorial rights, let it be with collonialists who had taken the absolute powers of monarchies and emperors and replaced it with what they called constitutional governments not only in Nigeria but globally and not with Oonirìnsà, who has always stood for unity and progress.

“The descendants of Oduduwa home and in diaspora know their natural father and they know where they all migrated from; hence, there is no contestation over Ooni’s place as the Arole Odùduwà. Leadership is never by forceful enthronement nor by empty threats, but by service, wisdom, and natural acceptability. Look at the way Ooni travels around the showcasing the Africanist substance, she how he creates businesses scattered across Yorubaland providing jobs for our youths. That is leadership!

“We advise the public and right thinking members of society to demand clarity on the referenced Supreme Court judgment being mischievously cited, to know exactly who and what it referred to, so as not to rope Ooni into matters that have no bearing on his sacred stool. Or doesn’t he have the right to appoint Dotun Sanusi as Okanlomo Oodua?

“In this 21st century where royal fathers across the world are strategizing on how to attract investments, foster unity, and build sustainable development in their domains, reducing the sacred institution of kingship to petty quarrels over minor titles is not and will never be on Ooni’s table. He is well above that.

“The House of Odùduwà remains committed to peace, unity, and prosperity across Yorubaland and beyond.”

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Explosion rocks Chevron oil refinery in US

Published

on

Plumes of smoke towered above a Chevron oil refinery in southern California on Thursday following reports of an explosion, according to US media and footage circulating on social media.

Video clips shared online by residents in El Segundo, a coastal suburb a few miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport, showed a massive fireball rising from the refinery with a loud, extended rumble.

El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel said authorities have not received any reports of injuries, according to local TV station K-CAL News just before 11 pm (0600 GMT).

The cause of the fire remained unclear, Pimentel was quoted as saying.

LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell told the outlet that firefighter crews contained the blaze to one area of the refinery and that residents did not have to evacuate.

“It has been contained and there is no cause for alarm for El Segundo or the surrounding areas,” Mitchell said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom “has been briefed on the incident at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery in Los Angeles County,” his press office said on X.

“Our office is coordinating in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety,” it added.

The flames died down considerably in the hour after the explosion was first reported around 0430 GMT, according to the Los Angeles Times, but flames and smoke remained visible for miles across the South Bay.

The El Segundo facility is the largest oil refinery on the US West Coast, processing more than 276,000 barrels of crude per day, Chevron said on its website.

AFP has contacted Los Angeles authorities for comment.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

News

ICPC reviews petition against Ibas on Rivers fund

Published

on

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has confirmed receiving a petition demanding a probe into the handling of Rivers State federal allocations by the state’s former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).

The petition, filed by civil rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, came days after Ibas ended his administration of the state on September 18.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday in Abuja, ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed receipt of the petition, noting that it had been forwarded to the commission’s legal department for review.

“Yes, we have received the petition and will look at its merit. It has a process. We receive it at the registry, the chairman gets it, and he forwards it for a legal opinion,” he said.

Adeyanju’s September 23, 2025, petition was titled “Petition for the investigation into the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), former Sole Administrator of Rivers State”.

The activist urged the ICPC to urgently investigate Ibas’s financial activities during his administration between March 18 and September 17, 2025.

Quoting official data from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Adeyanju claimed that Rivers State under Ibas’s control received a total of N283.3bn, excluding Internally Generated Revenue.

He explained that the figure comprised N36.6bn in local government allocations for January and February 2025, which had previously been withheld, and N246.7bn in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.

Despite these massive inflows, Adeyanju alleged that there was little or no evidence of tangible development carried out by the administration.

“Aside from the cosmetic renovation and painting of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, the people of Rivers State saw no tangible projects or developmental efforts to justify the expenditure of such colossal sums,” the petition stated.

It also accused the administration of failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025, while faulting Ibas’s position that he was only answerable to the President and the National Assembly.

“Disturbingly, the administration under Ibas failed to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025. Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him, dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He insists that because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to the President and the National Assembly,” Adeyanju stated.

The activist urged the ICPC to ascertain how the funds were applied, investigate possible acts of misappropriation or abuse of office, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is established.

“We trust in the commission’s mandate and commitment to combating corruption and safeguarding public resources, and we respectfully urge you to give this petition urgent attention,” he stated.

The PUNCH reports that last Wednesday, Ibas was in Aso Rock to meet President Bola Tinubu.

The closed-door meeting had the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in attendance.

The was three days after Ibas rejected calls by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe spending during his six-month watch.

However, there was no official statement from the Presidency as to the purpose of last Wednesday’s meeting.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

News

Trump administration cuts energy projects, freezes New York funding

Published

on

The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate dozens of clean energy projects and freeze billions of dollars for major projects in New York, intensifying a stand-off with Democrats over a US government shutdown.

US media outlets described the moves announced by the energy and transportation departments as part of the administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown.

US President Donald Trump had raced to enact hard-right policies even before the shutdown began after midnight on Tuesday, threatening mass firings and to slash government departments, and blaming Democrats for Congress’ failure to resolve a funding stand-off.

The Department of Energy announced on Thursday “the termination of 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects, resulting in a savings of approximately $7.56 billion for American taxpayers.”

It said in a statement that those projects — overseen by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and other bodies — “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs… and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

However, recipients of federal funding have 30 days to appeal against a termination decision, and some have already begun the process, the statement said.

It did not list the projects in question.

In a post on social media platform X, Russell Vought, who heads the powerful Office of Management and Budget, called the slashed projects “Green New Scam funding” that was used to advance “the Left’s climate agenda”.

He listed the states affected by the decision. They include California, New York and 14 others — all blue states where Trump failed to win in the 2024 presidential elections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration had decided to cancel “up to $1.2 billion” slated for a major hydrogen energy project, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

“In Trump’s America, energy policy is set by the highest bidder, economics and common sense be damned,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to keep pursuing a “clean energy strategy… no matter what DC tries to dictate.”

In New York — the home state of top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — the Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday it was freezing nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects, the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel.

The move takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies, according to the department’s statement, saying that subsidizing projects with “race- and sex-based contracting requirements… is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”

The funds would be frozen until a “quick administrative review is complete,” it said.

“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” it added, saying that the department “has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement that halting funding for “critical infrastructure projects” was “political payback and an attack on New York.”

“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” she said.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Trending