Ooni to Alaafin: Empty threat! I won’t dignify you with a response

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum from the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, regarding the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland as an “empty threat.”

In a statement, Ooni’s spokesperson, Otunba Moses Olafare, referred to Oba Owoade as a comedian.

“My Principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Babasala,” he said.

He also dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin over the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on business magnate, Engineer Dotun Sanusi (Ilaji).

Persecondnews reported that the Alaafin had accused the Ooni of overstepping his bounds by bestowing a title covering the entire Yorubaland on Sanusi.

Owoade insisted that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to confer such titles covering entire Yorubaland.

Reacting on Monday in a post on his Facebook page, Olafare said his principal had directed him not to dignify what he described as “an empty threat” with a formal press release.

“My Principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Babasala.

“I beg to disappoint you gentlemen of the press; we cannot dignify the undignifyable with an official response,” he said.

Olafare pointed out that the matter was already being subjected to the court of public opinion, adding that the Ooni’s palace would not be distracted from its focus on peace and unity.

“We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated. Let us rather focus on narratives that unite us, rather than the ones capable of dividing us.”