Details As Ugbo Monarch Akinruntan Insists Ooni Doesn’t Know History Of Yoruba

In a swift reaction to assertions by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II on the aboriginality of Ibos of South East Nigeria in Ife and their ownership of the Aje Deity of Yorubaland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Frederick E. Obateru Akinruntan, CON, Olugbo of Ugboland has asked Illustrious sons and daughters of Yorubaland, academic historians and scholars as well as Kings and Kingdoms who are bewildered by Ooni’s unfounded claims, capable of causing ethnic crisis, to take the Ooni’s statements with a pinch of salt.

The Olugbo, who is Chairman of Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Council as well as the Paramount Ruler and Prescribed Authority of Ugboland, a crude oil producing Kingdom in Ilaje LGA of Ondo state said,

“I have been receiving endless calls from all categories of people asking for my position on Ooni’s statement. I have asserted that the Ugbo-Ilaje of Coastal Ondo state (not the Igbo of South East Nigeria) are the aborigines and original settlers of ancient Ife”

When asked about the sudden twist against the Yorubas from a statement credited to the Deputy National Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr Chris Ibegbu, that beyond the claim of the Ooni, the Yoruba people of Nigeria met the Igbos of South East Nigeria in Ife, and that Oduduwa is an Ibo Prince, the Olugbo laughed hysterically and said

“Let me tell you something. What many people, including those worrying their heads about Ooni’s sacrilegious statement, is that Ooni Ojaja II is an interloper who does not have the competence to speak on behalf of Yoruba race. Ooni has goofed and it’s high time the Yoruba nation called him to order”

The first rate Monarch continued by saying,

“Oral traditions say that Oduduwa had many children who passed on except Okanbi who gave birth to seven children. Prominent sons of Okanbi are Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Orangun of Ila, Olowu of Owu, Onipopo of Popo, Onisabe of Sabe, Alaketu of Ketu, including grand children who have founded great Kingdoms till today. They are the ones that are competent to join me and other prominent Yoruba Kings like Awujale, Oluwo, Ajero, Owa Obokun and others too many to mention in telling the historiography of Yorubaland. No, not Ooni.

Let the Ooni tell us to which of the sons of Oduduwa that he belongs. Ooni is not one of the sons of Oduduwa. The Ooni is from the lineage of ABORE (Chief Priest) whose duty is to serve the throne of Ife, and I reiterate that he is not one of the sons of Oduduwa.

Many Yoruba Kings have testified to it. You can also ask from Yoruba history scholars. We should affirm the history of Yorubaland from myself, authentic sons of Oduduwa and many other prominent Yoruba Kings and not the Ooni. You cannot give what you do not have. He is not competent to tell our history”.

The King further said,

“His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, CFR, Alaafin of Oyo said the forefathers of the Olugbo of Ugbo-Ilaje are the aborigines and original settlers of ancient Ife and the Ooni say otherwise; yet you are worried.

The highly revered Oba of Benin who has departed to join his ancestors, His Imperial Majesty, Omonoba Uku Akpolopolo, Oba Erediauwa asserted that the Ugbo-Ilaje of Coastal Ondo state (and not the Ibos of South East Nigeria) occupied Ife in Pre-dynastic Yorubaland as the owners of Ife and the Ooni say otherwise; yet you are worried.”

Finally, he concluded by saying that the purported scheme to sell Yorubaland like a commodity to Igbos of South East Nigeria will fail, and that at the right time Yoruba race will give response to all those in a scheme to destroy Yoruba historical heritage.

Oba Obateru Akinruntan Fan Page.