The Ooni of Ife palace, on Thursday denied issuing an official statement on the viral video in which a Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho was seen lambasting the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over what he alleged as acts of betrayal against his struggle to liberate Yoruba race from the terrorist herdsmen.
Fielding questions from journalists at his office in Ile-Ife on Thursday, the Director of Media and Public Affairs, to the Ooni, Mr Moses Olafare, said it is not in the style of the Ooni to make official response on any matter that threatens the unity and peace of the country, especially as it affects the descendants of Oduduwa worldwide.
Olafare said, “Ooni Ogunwusi was unperturbed by the abuses of words rained on him by the Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as ‘Igboho Oosa’ who had two days ago spoken derogatorily about the Yoruba’s greatest monarch.”
He said Igboho had been forgiven, stressing, “Sunday Igboho still remains a son to the Ooni. Baba has already forgiven him because he had tendered an apology via a video clip he produced via social media yesterday (Wednesday) evening.”
The royal father, according to Olafare, could not bicker with any of his sons even in the face of quantum of provocations.
Olafare revealed that the apology to the Ooni by Igboho was the handiwork of Olugbon of Ile-Igbon and Vice Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Olusola Alao who had called the activist to advise and warn him of the consequences that might follow his misconducts towards the Spiritual Head of Oduduwa Race whose sons and daughters are the Yorubas he claimed to be fighting for.
He said, “Before tendering the apology, it was the Baba Olugbon of Ile-igbon that first called and informed Arole Oodua on phone that he had scolded Sunday on phone on his misdeeds and that he would soon tender a public apology to him on the matter via a video release. Sunday Igboho, thereafter, released the video in which he tendered his apology.
“Even though the way and manner Sunday had behaved was sacrilegious to the Oduduwa throne but he has already apologized and I can confirm that Arole Oodua has forgiven him, because, there is no perfection in humanity. Sunday is a human being like any other normal human being who could misbehave as well. No one is perfect.
“As the father of all, the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II remains his father who had even identified with him in the past two weeks he had begun with the struggle and he is still solidly behind him for the liberation of the Yorubas from criminal herdsmen who have adamantly terrorized our land. Just that he must watch his back so that people with ulterior motives wil not high jack his movement.”
When asked if the Ooni had ever made an official statement on the issue, Olafare said it is not in the habit of the palace to make official statements on any matter that threatens the unity and peace of the country, especially as it affects the descendants of Oduduwa.
“No no no, palace has never officially responded and will never respond over the video. As a matter fact, it is not even our style to do so, and we have a ‘talkless and listen more” history on issues like this because we focus more on what unites us together than what divides us as a people of one source.
“Like I said, he has apologized through Kabiyesi Olugbon who called Baba on his behalf and Arole Oodua has forgiven him. Let’s just let the matter rest.”
The traditional ruler, however appealed to all to let the sleeping dog lie on the matter as life must go on.
