Ooni also dismissed being in a supremacy battle with Alafin, saying he is focused on “setting up businesses and creating jobs.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has finally responded to the 48hrs ultimatum issued to him by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, calling it an “empty threat of dead empire”.
He reacted to the threat in a statement shared on social media by his spokesman, Moses Olafare.
It all started when Ooni conferred the Okanlomo of Yorubaland Chieftaincy title on an Ibadan-based businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi.
Reacting to the decision, Alafin issued a 48 hours ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife to withdraw the Chieftaincy title.
Oba Owoade also described the decision as an affront to his authority and the traditional institution.
A statement from the Oyo monarch read in part: “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has been drawn to the purported conferment of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a business tycoon, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi”
It added, “The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is now being put to a crucial test, and the reality of our time makes it very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engineer Dotun Sanusi within 48 hours, or face the consequences.”
ALSO READ: DSS urges court to deny bail to alleged Owo church attackers over ties to Al-Shabab
Responding, Ooni described the 48 hours ultimatum by the Alaafin of Oyo as an “empty threat”.
He also dismissed being in a supremacy battle with him, saying he is focused on “setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland”.
The Ife monarch, however, said he awaits the elapse of the 48 hours ultimatum.
The statement read, “The Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland, they are busy fighting supremacy that does not exist. Dead empire.
“Their 48-hour ultimatum will soon lapse. We are waiting. Dead Empire. Ooni plans for the groundbreaking and launching of the Ojaja smart city in Ibadan, the biggest in Africa, someone is somewhere busy issuing 48 hours empty threats.
“Where does this king (Ooni) have time for supremacy hullabaloo? Issuing 48-hour ultimatum over a Chieftaincy title that doesn’t even exist.”
