Moses Olafare, the spokesperson for Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, has called the 48-hour ultimatum issued to his principal by Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, regarding the reversal of the title granted to Dotun Sanusi, a well-known business magnate from Ibadan, a meaningless threat.
According to reports, the monarch claimed in a statement made by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, that the Ooni does not have the sole authority to grant the businessman the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
He was incensed that the Ooni’s action called into question his authority and added that only the Alaafin have the only right to grant titles that cover Yorubaland.
He clarified that the Oranmiyan Local Government, which has since been split into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South, is the only entity over which the Ooni has power under his instrument of office.
Therefore, Owoade asked that the title be revoked within 48 hours and warned that noncompliance would have repercussions.
The king recalled his Yorubaland unification tour, during which he emphasized that the region’s peace and unity continue to be the cornerstones of significant and long-term development.
But Olafare revealed in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday that the Ooni had specifically told him to disregard the esteemed Oyo king.
Olafare emphasized that he had left the subject to be decided in the public court of opinion and said that the Ooni would not dignify what he called “undignifyable” with an official answer.
“My principal has instructed me not to issue a press release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala,” the post stated. I’m sorry, gentlemen of the press, to disappoint you.
“We cannot use an official reaction to elevate the “undignifable.” Since the issue is already being addressed, we let it be decided in the public court of opinion.
Instead, let’s concentrate on stories that bring us together rather than ones that could drive us apart. Please don’t issue a press release for 48 Hours My Foot!
