The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has declined to officially respond to the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, demanding the withdrawal of the chieftaincy title conferred on Ibadan-based businessman, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
Oba Owoade had, through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, on Monday, described the Ooni’s action as an “affront” and a “direct challenge” to his authority. He insisted that only the Alaafin reserves the right to confer Yoruba-wide titles and warned that “consequences will follow” should the Ooni fail to revoke the title within 48 hours.
He said, “The conferment of a Yoruba-wide chieftaincy title by the Ooni is not only ultra vires but an insult to the Titan of Yorubaland. The Supreme Court has ruled that only the Alaafin has such authority. Yet, the Ooni continues to act above the law, trampling on both tradition and the courts.”
However, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, disclosed that Oba Ogunwusi had instructed him not to dignify the ultimatum with any official response.
Olafare wrote: “My Principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat. We cannot 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.”
He further added: “Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than those capable of dividing us. No press release please… 48 hours my foot!!!”
