Ooni Reacts to Alaafin's Outburst: "The Alawada Babasala"
- The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has made a subtle response to the 48-hour ultimatum issued to him by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade
- Moses Olafare, the spokesperson to the Ooni, said his principal has instructed him not to make any official comment about the ultimatum, but described the Alaafin as a comic actor
- The Alaafin, on Monday, August 18, ordered the Ooni to withdraw the chieftaincy title given to an Ibadan businessman, saying he alone has the absolute authority to give titles in Yorubaland
Moses Olafare, the spokesperson to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said that the traditional ruler will not speak on the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Owoade.
Tension started mounting in the Southwest as the Alaafin gave the Ooni of Ife a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland recently bestowed on Ibadan businessman, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
Source: Twitter
Olafare, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 19, disclosed that the Ooni of Ife has instructed him not to make an official response to the Alaafin's claim. He, however, described the ultimatum as an empty threat, describing him as "the Alawada Babasala," a legendary Yoruba comic actor.
His statement reads in part:
"Let's rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us".
See the Facebook post here:
When did Alaafin threaten Ooni of Ife?
In a statement issued through Bode Durojaiye, his director of media and publicity, on Monday, August 18, the Alaafin described the action of the Ooni as an affront and direct challenge to his authority. He said the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to give titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.
In the statement, the Alaafin described the action of the Ooni as an insult and ultra vires. The monarch recalled that the Supreme Court had previously ruled that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive authority to confer Yoruba titles. He maintained that the Ooni’s action not only violated this ruling but also disregarded long-standing tradition.
The Alaafin explained that the staff of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi when he was installed restricted his authority to the Oranmiyan local government, which has now been split into Ife North, Ife South and Ife Central
Oba Owoade insisted that the Ooni did not have the mandate to confer a traditional title that would cover the whole of Yorubaland on anyone, insisting that "this must stop."
Alaafin laments dignity of Yoruba traditional institutions
The Alaafin further argued that the dignity of the Yoruba traditional institution was being put to the test, adding that there would be consequences should the Ooni fail to withdraw the title within 48 hours.
Oba Owoade recounted his unity tour across the Yoruba kingdom and argued that development and peace would only thrive when there is respect for hierarchy and tradition.
He stressed that the forefathers of the Yoruba Kingdom fought for unity and that the present generation must preserve it. However, according to Owoade, the Ooni of Ife is taking his peace initiative as a weakness, while describing the conferment as "provocative actions".
Source: Twitter
Igboho vs Gani Adams: Ooni canvasses peace
Legit.ng earlier reported that the rift between Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nation activist and the Aare Oba Kakanfo, Gani Adams, took a new shape.
Despite the peace move by the Ooni of Ife, the two activists have continued to threaten each other with legal suits.
In a new development, Gani Adams said a viral voice note attributed to him on the issue was distorted and targeted at tarnishing his reputation.
Source: Legit.ng
