Ooni of Ife Turns Deaf Ear to Alaafin’s Deadline Threat on Chieftaincy Title

Alaafin Owoade of Oyo

Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has refused to pay attention to 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 said that the monarch has ordered him not to issue any official response to Oba Abimbola Owoade’s command.

Following his Facebook page, Moses said that the Alaafin of Oyo’s threat is empty, hence why it will not be dignified with any form of reply.

Saying that no response should be expected from the Ooni’s office anytime soon, Olafare was of the opinion that the matter should 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.

While he spoke 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.

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.

According to him, only the Alaafin has the right to bestow titles covering the entire Yorubaland; therefore, the Ooni acted beyond his powers.