The Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has brushed aside the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, describing it as an “empty threat” unworthy of an official response.
In a message released by the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Yera Moses Olafare via his Facebook page, the palace maintained that it would not be dragged into unnecessary disputes that could create disunity in Yorubaland.
“My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Babasala,” Olafare stated, stressing that the palace would not “dignify the undignifyable with an official response.”
He further noted that the matter was already being debated in the public court of opinion, where it rightly belonged. “Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us,” Olafare added, dismissing the Alaafin’s 48-hour ultimatum with the phrase: “48 Hours, my foot!”
The development comes amid rising tensions following the Alaafin’s objection to the Ooni’s conferment of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi. While the Alaafin insists the title should be withdrawn, the Ooni’s camp has made it clear that it has no plans to engage in a war of words over the issue.
