In a statement released from his palace this afternoon, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, blasted oil magnate and Oba of Ugbo Kingdom in Ondo state, Oba Federick Akinruntan, for recently referring to yoruba ancestral queen, Queen Moremi as a traitor not worthy to be celebrated.
Akinruntan at a recent function, condemned Ile-Ife people for celebrating Queen Moremi and even erecting a stature in her honor.
In his reaction, the Ooni of Ife says Akinruntan’s statement smacks of royal rascality and a pitiable act of absurdity that doesn’t deserve serious attention by serious minded people. Read what Akinruntan said about Queen Moremi and the Ooni of Ife’s response below:
Oba Akinruntan’s statement
“Our forefathers descended from heaven, that is why we are called ‘Ugbo Atorunwo.’ We are not Ibos (Igbos), who are from the South-East, and who have their own clearly researched and defined ancestry. To set the record straight, Moremi remains a traitor. She was a slave captured by Ugbo warriors during one of their many raids on Ile-Ife. She later became the wife of Osangangan Obamakin, the son of Oranfe, of who was the paramount ruler of over 13 aboriginal communities of ancient Ugbomokun, which later came to be called Ile Ife. Oduduwa came to Ugbomokun as a stranger and was welcomed in Ilero, the aboriginal palace of Osangangan Obamakin, which is still in existence in present-day Iremo, in Ile Ife. During the dynastic struggles, Osangangan Obamakin was directed by the oracles (Ifa and Osanyin) to leave Ile Ife. Moremi betrayed her husband’s trust when she exposed the secret of the Ugbo warriors’ gallantry.” Oba Akinruntan said.
The Ooni of Ife’s reaction:
“The attention of ILE-OODUA has been drawn to the above quoted statement credited to Oba Frederick Akinruntan through the Olugbo-in-Council berating the people ILE-IFE for celebrating MOREMI AJASORO as a heroine and goddess of liberty.
This outburst of OLUGBO can only be viewed by the well meaning people as a mere royal rascality and a pitiable act of absurdity that doesn’t deserve serious attention by serious minded people.
How on earth should a Yoruba king refer to Moremi as a traitor just because she used her power of a woman to liberate her people from incessant invasions by some faceless terrorists?
While we remain very proud of the great queen Moremi Ajasoro, a brave woman who sacrificed her only son OLUOROGBO for the victory of her people over the faceless terrorists who used to incessantly raid Ife markets, we will not dignify this rascality of royalty with an expected response as we are not ready for any useless supremacy battle incapable of taking Yoruba to a greater height.
Most paramount on the mind of His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II with the unflinching support of baba Alaafin, baba Awujale, baba Alake, baba Orangun, baba Deji, babe Ewi, baba Osemawe, baba Olubadan, Oba of Lagos and other relevant peace loving monarchs in Yorubaland and in other parts of the country is and remains the much needed progress of Yoruba nation which can only be catalyzed by peace and unity, this has necessitated his unimaginable barrier-breaking unity visits he has been taking around not only in Yorubaland but also across Nigeria and internationally. his activities in the last one year on throne are enough to attest to his personality as a king of peace.
It is a pity that at this time when everybody is lucidly tired of retrogressive royal discord generally agreed to have colossally hindered our pace of progress as a people of common heritage politically and socio-economically, the OLUGBO who claims to be the chairman of Yoruba Obas Committee on Peace and Reconciliation has suddenly without a deep knowledge of Yoruba history woken up to see royal controversy as the only tool for cheap publicity.
Kabiyesi Ooni is not interested in joining issues with Oba Akinruntan or anyone on any matter that can jeopardize his peace and unity project which is already making impact in so many sectors such as Youth development, women empowerment, cultural tourism, agric revolution, unification of our elders and traditional rulers, to mention but a few.
We therefore urge every lover of peace and unity in Africa to ignore any reckless statement capable of further dividing us, they should rather see the author of such statement as a person who poses a too armful danger to our peaceful coexistence.
Yoruba must remain united, Nigeria must remain united, Africa must remain united and the entire black worldwide must remain united because we are one before the Almighty God.”
Comrade Moses Olafare,
Director of Media and Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.