Why Ooni won’t respond to Alaafin’s threat – Palace aide

Why Ooni won’t respond to Alaafin’s threat – Palace aide

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has chosen not to formally respond to the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, concerning the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on businessman Dotun Sanusi.

In a statement shared on Facebook Tuesday by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, the Ooni’s palace explained that the monarch does not consider the ultimatum worthy of an official reply. Instead, he prefers to leave the matter for the public to judge rather than engage in back-and-forth press statements.

Olafare further stressed that the Ooni remains committed to promoting unity among the Yoruba people and believes energy should be directed towards issues that strengthen cohesion rather than sow division.

He wrote, “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.

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”We can not dignify the undignifyable 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!!!”

The development follows a statement from the Alaafin of Oyo demanding that the Ooni revoke the chieftaincy title within 48 hours.

The Alaafin had argued that the authority to confer titles covering the entire Yorubaland lies exclusively with him, citing a Supreme Court ruling to that effect.

He maintained that the Ooni’s action amounted to a breach of traditional boundaries, insisting that the monarch’s powers were limited to Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South Local Government Areas, as stipulated in his instrument of office.

The Alaafin had further described the conferment of the title on Sanusi as unlawful and an affront to his stool, warning that failure to comply with his directive would attract consequences.

Why Ooni won’t respond to Alaafin’s threat – Palace aide