Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has ignored the 48-hour ultimatum given to him by the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Abimbola Owoade over the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Nigerian businessman Dotun Sanusi.
Moses Olafare, Ooni’s media aide, recently revealed that the monarch has ordered him not to issue any official response to Oba Abimbola Owoade’s command.
Reacting via his Facebook page, Moses said that the Alaafin of Oyo’s threat are empty, hence why it will not be dignified with any form of reply.
Insisting that no response should be expected from the Ooni’s office anytime soon, Olafare disclosed that the matter would be left for Nigerians to judge.
He concluded by saying that Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi is more focused on issues that breed unity, not division.
“My Principal has directed me against issuing a Press Release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala.
I beg to disappoint you gentlemen of the press.
We cannot dignify the undignified with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion as it is already being treated.
Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us.
No Press Release pls. 48 Hours My Foot!” he wrote.
Recall that the Alaafin recently gave the Ooni 48 hours to revoke the title conferred on Mr Sanusi.
Speaking via a press statement signed by his director of media and publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin stated that the decision was the Ooni’s way of challenging his authority.
According to him, only the Alaafin has the right to bestow titles covering the entire Yorubaland; therefore, the Ooni acted beyond his powers.
Oba Abimbola Owoade added that the instrument of office given to the Ooni clearly restricts his authority to the Ife area, covering Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South local governments.
