Disregard Statement Threatening to Invoke Ancestors on Oba of Lagos – Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has dissociated himself from a statement credited to one Tunde Awoyemi, who said he is the Director of Tourism, Ooni’s Palace.

Awoyemi had threatened to call on the the ancestors if Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu does not tender an apology to the Ooni for “snubbing” him at a function earlier in the week.

Prior to Awoyemi’s statement, Moses Olafare, the Director of Media and Public Relations, Ooni’s Palace had said that the monarch was not ready to issue any official statement on the matter, adding that the Ooni still holds his Lagos counterpart in high esteem.

Following Awoyemi’s statement, Olafare said:

The Palace  of Ooni is using this medium to dissociate Ooni of Ife from the statement credited to Mr Tunde Awoyemi  and we have said it repeatedly that we have no official reaction to the issue of Oba Akiolu.

Kabiyesi Ogunwusi is committed to his peace and unity agenda, which he has embarked on since he ascended the throne of his forefathers. We refrain from reacting officially, with a view to avoiding fanning any ember of discord as Oba Akiolu remains​ respected monarch and the Ooni had established a very robust and healthy relationship with him before his installation as Ooni of Ife.

While Ooni would continue to sustain the relationship with Oba Akiolu, we want to state categorically that the remark credited to Tunde Awoyemi was not authorised by Ooni and should be disregarded by all Nigerians both at home and in diaspora.