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.”
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