‘Ooni not in supremacy battle with anyone’
By Daud Olatunji ABEOKUTA—The Alake and paramount
ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has maintained his stand
on the ranking of Yoruba Obas, pledging to release evidence to back his
claims.
The Alake who spoke through his Special Adviser on media Affairs,
Chief Lai Labode said he does not want to engage in controversy with
anyone.
The Paramount ruler had on Saturday stirred the hornet’s nest,
declaring that the Ooni of Ife remained the highest in the ranking of
Yoruba Obas.
The Alake who also identified ego as the cause of disunity among
traditional rulers and people of Yoruba extraction, said the Ife monarch
is the highest of the five principal Obas in Yorubaland.
Oba Gbadebo said this while receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi in his Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State palace. OOni and Alake
The Alake who had listed the other Obas below the Ooni to include the
Alaafin of Oyo and the Oba of Benin coming second and third,
respectively, in that order.
He also listed his own title, the Alake of Egbaland as the fourth
while the Awujale of Ijebuland occupies the lowest rung of ladder.
The Alake said, “Ooni is one of the five principal Obas in
Yorubaland. The others are in order of the way they are classified on
supremacy basis. After the Ooni is the Alaafin. After the Alaafin, the
Oba of Benin. After the Oba of Benin, it comes to the Alake of Egbaland
and the fifth and by no means the last or the least, the Awujale of
Ijebuland.’’
Although, the paramount ruler was said to be unavailable to clear
some issues relating to his claim, his aide disclosed that the monarch
had sent an evidence to support his claim through his private secretary
who was not available as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru
Adetona could not be reached as his Personal Assistant, simply
identified as Toyin requested for a letter of interview before Awujale
before he could talk to the press.
The Awujale aide said the monarch was ready to speak with media provided that a letter of request for interview is sent to him. Ooni not in supremacy battle with anyone
Meantime, as the controversy over the ranking of traditional rulers
in Yorubaland continued yesterday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi said he would not want to be drawn into supremacy battle with
any traditional ruler in the country.
Oba Ogunwusi reiterated his desire for a more united Yoruba race and peaceful Nigeria.
The Esogban of Benin and Odionwere of the kingdom (Traditional Head),
Chief David Edebiri had on Monday said the Alake of Egba land, Oba
Adedotun Gbadebo goofed when he said the Oba of Benin was third in the
hierarchy of Obas.
He explained that the Ooni of Ife was a son of the Oba of Benin,
adding that the stool of the Oba of Benin could not be compared with
that of any Yoruba king.
But when contacted to comment on the statement credited to the palace
of Oba of Benin, the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s
Palace Moses Olafare said the only thing that was paramount to Ooni
Adeyeye Ogunwusi now remains the need to foster unity and healthy
development among the Yorubas and the entire nation.
His words: “Let me emphasize for the umpteen time that kabiyesi Ooni
is less concerned over any supremacy hullabaloo, he’s only interest for
now on the sacred throne of Oduduwa is to explore measures through which
the collective interest and genuine unity among Yoruba and other tribes
within the larger House of Oduduwa can be enhanced.
“This informed his resolve to build bridges of harmony among Yourba
Obas. I am resolutely committed to how Yoruba ethnic group can restore
its glory and pride position among other ethnic inclinations in Nigeria
and don’t want to be dragged into supremacy contest or join issues with
anybody.”
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