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Tag: ooni of ife

  • Ooni of Ife speaks on alleged $180,000 marriage scam with US-based female doctor

    Ooni of Ife speaks on alleged $180,000 marriage scam with US-based female doctor

    Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has distanced himself from the allegation that he swindled one Ms Fagbule in a $180,000 marriage scam.

    The monarch via his spokesman Moses Olafare in a statement on the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter urged women to protect themselves from internet marriage fraud due to their desire to become his wife by all means.

    The statement said, “The following assertions are hereby made for necessary clarifications: That the news as posted by a Twitter (now X) handle called ‘99% OPPRESSED’ is fake, untrue and absolutely an unfounded allegation only adopted as a nugatory character assassination tactic, aimed at achieving cheap popularity with a view to drawing huge followers/traffic for avaricious monetisation from Twitter (X).

    “That the so-called Ms Fagbule was and is never known to the Ooni of Ife for any interpersonal communication or relationship whatsoever, talk less of being so promised with a marriage proposal.

    “Ooni Adeyeye does not operate any Facebook accounts personally. He runs the palace as an institutional organisation with a functional media directorate, which has a section that operates his social media handles – Instagram, Facebook etc.”

    Oba Ogunwusi queried that if the woman so mentioned as Ms Fagbule is from Osun State or Ile-Ife in particular, why didn’t she come to the palace to meet him in person throughout the so-called relationship?

    “Rather than taking her matter to the appropriate agencies like EFCC and the Police for professional investigation, which could have adequately helped her, she chose to make it a social media brouhaha.

    “If, for whatever reason, she had preferred social media to the Police and EFCC who are professionally trained, shouldn’t she have engaged a credible mainstream media organisation – print and electronic, or consulted credible Human Right crusaders like CDHR, Femi Falana Chambers and their likes in the country, who undoubtedly possess tested capacity and passion for applying principles of justice and fairness in their efforts of thorough investigation in any matter of injustice against the oppressed,” the Ooni further asked.

    The monarch further  described the said letter of marriage proposal paraded on the X handle of the so-called ‘99% OPPRESSED’ as a fabrication of lies.

    He affirmed that the letterhead used for the letter does not reflect the originality of the palace’ official letterhead, adding that the body of the letter does not also grammatically reflect letters he personally signs in any way.

    “With the Ooni’s status in wealth, business success, philanthropy and highly revered royalty, to allege or even suggest that he would be collecting money from any lady for travel expenses and others in exchange for marriage with a huge portfolio of billions of naira being handled by Ooni Ogunwusi for humanity, can only be viewed by reasonable people in the society as a figment of the imagination of Mrs Fagbule and her social media Messiah.

    “If the lady truly has a genuine case of marriage proposal fraud against anyone, whether or not it affects the name of the Ooni, she is hereby invited to the palace in Ile-Ife to physically meet the Ooni for fatherly assistance, and with the help of the law enforcement agencies to uncover the perpetrators of this inhuman crime against her,” the statement said.

  • Ooni of Ife replies those criticising him for attending Davido’s wedding

    Ooni of Ife replies those criticising him for attending Davido’s wedding

    Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has responded to those criticizing him for attending the wedding of Afrobeat sensation Davido and Chioma on Tuesday in Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reported that Ooni’s presence at the ceremony, particularly his interactions with the guests, drew criticism from netizens.

    In response, Oba Ogunwusi, however, told journalists at a briefing that he found the criticisms amusing, showcasing his resilience in the face of public opinion.

    The first-class monarch said his predecessors were more social than him despite the absence of social media at that time.

    He said, “I woke up today they said ‘Oh I went to Davido’s party. I was shaking hands.’ I just laughed,” he said.

    “Every news is news either good or bad. It depends on the way you spin it. For me I want to spin any bad news they say about me, I want to spin it for good things.

    “They are comparing me with my predecessors, there was no social media then but they actually socialized more than me. People like to talk about me a lot.”

    Oba Ogunwusi also called for the empowerment of young people in Nigeria to improve the lots of families.

  • CHIVIDO2024: Ooni Of Ife criticised over display at Davido’s wedding

    CHIVIDO2024: Ooni Of Ife criticised over display at Davido’s wedding

    The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusii has been heavily criticised over his presence at the Afrobeat sensation Davido and Chioma wedding at Eko Hotel and Suites on Tuesday in Lagos .

    The wedding had top dignitaries in attendance, including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.

    Also among the guests were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; immediate-past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel; Elegushi of Ikate land Oba Saheed Elegushi; and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Olaoye.

    However, Ooni’s presence at the ceremony, particularly his interactions with the guests, has drawn criticism from some Nigerians.

    Reacting, netizens argue that a figure of his stature should have refrained from such social gatherings.

    See some of the posts culled from X below:

  • I’m proud to be an accountant – Ooni of Ife

    I’m proud to be an accountant – Ooni of Ife

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, says he is proud to be an accountant and will continuing to hold the profession in high esteem.

    Ooni stated this at the 6th Western Zonal Leadership Retreat of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN) held in Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub, Ile-Ife, on Saturday.

    The theme of the retreat is “Navigating The Future: Empowering Accountants For Excellence In A Dynamic District.”

    Oba Adeyeye, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said the profession shaped his life and contributed immensely to his success story in life.

    The traditional ruler was represented at the event by Sooko Omoniyi of Ife, Prince Kemade Elugbaju.

    In his opening speech, the 9th Zonal Chairman, ICAN, Western Zone, Alhaji Lateef Awojobi, FCA, appreciated the delegates for attending the event in spite of the hitches.

    Awojobi expressed the hope that the incoming executives would take the Institute to greater heights.

    According to him, whatever may be the shortcomings of the outgoing executives, the incoming executives will address them.

    Speaking on the topic Leadership in The Digital Era, the guest lecturer, Mr Omomofe Akintunde, FCA, who is the immediate past chairman, Akure and District Society, said, ”leadership is all about influence at whatever level.”

    Akintunde said that in today’s world, technology was the key, and it was important for leaders to deploy technology in achieving organisational goals.

    He added that leadership in the accounting profession required knowledge as new methods were being evolved regularly.

    In a lecture titled ‘Exploring Productive and Vibrant District Society,” the guest lecturer, Dr Gbenga Omidiji, FCA, said that the main thing in exploring was to add value which involved planning, research, why, who, where and when.

    Omidiji noted that members of the profession needed to explore and be more productive which would make them vibrant in their district society.

  • Ooni of Ife reacts to a man who claimed he’s his son in viral video

    Ooni of Ife reacts to a man who claimed he’s his son in viral video

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has reacted to a claim by a man that the monarch gave birth to him.

    Speaking on Thursday via a statement issued by the palace spokesperson, Moses Olafare, the king disowned the man in the viral video and accused him of impersonation.

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    Olafare went on to disclose that the matter had been reported to the police for further action, adding that the Ooni of Ife, being a responsible father and custodian of tradition, knew and acknowledged all his children and would stop at nothing to take full responsibility for them.

    He also declared that the self-acclaimed prince is unknown to the palace and the Ile-Ife populace.

    The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to an amateur video clip featuring a grown-up individual claiming to be a son of our father, Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, the Ooni of Ife, virally trending across various online platforms.

    “The self-acclaimed prince was unknown to the palace and the Ile-Ife populace.

    “He is not a child of Ooni Ogunwusi as fraudulently claimed and also never related in any way to any lineage of the Ogunwusi royal family and the Giesi royal compound of Ile-Ife at large.

    “We categorically condemn and denounce this shameless act of impersonation in the strongest possible terms.

    “It is imperative to clarify that the Ooni of Ife, as a responsible father and custodian of tradition, knows and acknowledges all his children and stops at nothing to take full responsibility for them (both those who are in Nigeria and outside the country).”

    Ooni of Ife further listed all his children and their respective locations all over the world.

    “As all of Ooni’s children are well known to the palace and the people of Ile-Ife, the eldest child of the Ooni is Princess Adeola Ogunwusi, a Masters degree holder working and residing in Canada, followed by Princess Adewamiwa Ogunwusi, who recently relocated to further her education in Dublin, Ireland, from where she had come three years ago for her secondary school education in her home country, Nigeria.

    “Princess Adesewa is doing very well, Prince Tadenikawo Ogunwusi is widely known to be with his mother, hale and hearty while the newborn twins, Prince Adebisi Kehinde and Princess Taiwo Adeayo, are being planned to formally make their historic entry into the palace in a couple of days, in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Ife palace,” it statememt firther disclosed.

    The palace while condemning the marauding impersonation tactics to exploit the revered status of the Ooni of Ife for fraudulent personal gains, added that it was not only sacrilegious but criminal.

    “Impersonation of any member of the royal family is a sacrilege against the sanctity of the palace and the heritage it represents.

    “While the palace leaves no stone unturned to go after this criminal using all possible means to scapegoat him, with a view to making him face the law for necessary deterrence, we hereby urge the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the perpetrator to justice as swiftly as possible,” it added.

    It asked that any individual with useful information about the whereabouts of the impersonator to seek an audience with the palace or the police.

    “We call on the impersonator to refrain from engaging in or promoting such deceptive practices.

    “The The house of oduduwa remained committed to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and would not tolerate any attempt to undermine or tarnish its legacy through fraudulent means,” Olafare concluded.

     

  • Real reason Oba of Benin banished 6 palace chiefs

    Real reason Oba of Benin banished 6 palace chiefs

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has stripped six palace Chiefs of their traditional titles and banished them from the palace over alleged traditional sacrilege.

    Their banishment is contained in a  statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Mr Osaigbovo Iguobaro, on Monday in Benin.

    Iguobaro said the affected chiefs engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin custom.

    The palace spokesperson described the Chiefs as “self-serving traditional functionaries and integrity-challenged individuals”.

    The affected chiefs include Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka).

    The other two “Ogbelaka” funtionaries are Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.

    “These former palace functionaries had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II) in his palace.

    “There, they recently rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and that of the Ooni of Ife.

    “They later admitted before an investigative Committee, led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin Custom.

    “The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the Benin Kingdom, pronounced their banishment.

    “Consequently, they were also stripped of their Benin Royal beads, recognition as Palace functionaries and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.

    “The affected palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin Palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin.

    He said: “The banished former traditional functionaries were thereafter escorted out of the Palace by Chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers) with occipital horns invoking ancestral spirits to bear witness.”

  • I did not visit Kuje prison to see Emefiele – Ooni of Ife clarifies

    I did not visit Kuje prison to see Emefiele – Ooni of Ife clarifies

    Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, says his visit to Kuje Custodial Centre in the FCT was part of advocacy to commemorate his 8th-year ascension to the throne.

    He said in his palace on Thursday that his visit to the centre was not to visit embattled former CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, as reported by some sections of the media.

    Ooni clarified while receiving two vehicles and three motorcycles presented to him by an indigenous vehicles manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd.

    “I don’t understand why people just misread things in this country. A letter was written to the Nigeria Correctional Service and to the custodial centre in Ile-Ife about my visits.

    “I had an assignment in Abuja and Kuje Correctional Centre happened to be nearby. Then, as part of my coronation anniversary, I visited the custodial centre.

    “The Hope Alive Initiative, a pet project of one of my queens had a programme in Abuja and I joined to give hope to the hopeless,’’ the Ooni said.

    He stressed that he decided to give hope to people in custodial centres regardless of their statuses and it was a humbling experience.

    The traditional ruler expressed consternation that some sections of the media misrepresented and misconstrued his visit.

    Oba Ogunwusi called on Nigerians to focus on positive issues and on how the country would improve, rather than dwelling on inanities.

    The Ooni expressed appreciation of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company Ltd. and appealed to leaders and Nigerians to embrace the use of Made-in-Nigeria products instead of promoting foreign goods.

    “We should not allow our local industries to die. We don’t need to benchmark our economy on the dollar.

    “I am using this anniversary to appeal to our leaders to stop promoting foreign products. We are the ones killing our industries in this country.

    “We must continue to support local companies to grow our economy. It is time we looked inwards in the area of manufacturing.

    “Our leaders must promote the local economy through indigenous companies. Let our leaders support local industries to allow our unemployed youths to be gainfully employed,’’ the Ooni admonished.

    The paramount ruler charged the National Assembly to make laws to ensure that 70 per cent of goods consumed in the country are locally-made.

    “If we consistently patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods, standardisation will set in and the country will develop the more.

    “Most of the products I use are locally-made. I want this nation to grow,’’ he stressed.

    Ooni Ogunwusi also enjoined Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu so it could deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

  • Nigeria failing to build a truly united nation – Ooni of Ife

    Nigeria failing to build a truly united nation – Ooni of Ife

    His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife has expressed worry that Nigeria can be said to be less united as it was at Independence.

    Oba Ogunwusi stressed that from recent developments across the country, it can be said Nigeria is failing in the attempt to build a truly united nation.

    The Oba, who is Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said this on Saturday, during the 51st convocation ceremony of the institution.

    Speaking during the ceremony for for the award of Postgraduate degrees, Diplomas and conferment of honorary degrees, the Ooni of Ife urged graduates and those conferred to be good ambassadors of the institution.

    He urged them not to relent as the ambassadors of the university in sustaining the good reputations the university had earned over the years.

    “I urge all the graduates and honorary awardees never to relent in being good ambassadors of this great university wherever they found themselves.

    “UNN as the first university in the country, our graduates are expected to live up to our name and reputation in restoring the dignity of man.

    “To the honorary awardees, the recognition given to you today by the university should spur you to greater heights to do more to the university as well as render more selfless service to humanity,” he said.

    The Chancellor urged Nigerians to see the task of uniting the country as everybody’s responsibility.

    “It worries me and other patriotic Nigerians that our country can be said to be less united as it was at independence.

    “From recent developments across the country, I wish to remind us that we are failing in our attempt to build a truly united nation.

    “As graduates we are proud to have been in a school like this where you have classmates, roommates, and friends from different parts of the country and the world.

    “You have a duty to teach others that we are the same people irrespective of the tiny differences in our culture, religious or mother tongue,” he said

    He commended Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the UNN, and the management for their commitment and dedication in ensuring that they sustained the dreams and visions of the founding fathers of the university and urged them to keep it up.

    Speaking, Igwe said that this convocation ceremony was dedicated to the award of Postgraduate degrees and honorary degrees, which, according to him, marked the grand finale of the 51st convocation ceremony of the institution.

    “Some 1,548 postgraduate degrees and Diplomas were awarded at the convocation.

    “This is made up of 519 degrees, 934 Master’s degrees and 95 Postgraduate diplomas.

    “I congratulate the graduates for earning the postgraduate degree or diploma of this great university, which have elevated you to the elite club of alumni who hold a postgraduate qualification of the University. It is an achievement that you should be proud of,” he said.

    The VC, who used the ceremony to share some of the recent developments at the University, noted that the institution had remained competitive and had continued to re-invent itself in spite of the challenges of inadequate and ageing infrastructures facing the first generation university.

    “We have continued to strive to retain the reputation of excellence for which we have been known over years. Our staff have been quite productive, not only in teaching, research and innovation, but also in community service.

    “Our university is also a beneficiary of a good number of projects from capital allocation, NEEDS assessment and TETFund intervention.

    “In spite of all these, UNN is in dire need of support from friends and alumni as the university is worse hit by the prevailing economic conditions in the country,” he said.

    According to the VC, the Doctor of Public Administration degree would be conferred on Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, former Inspector General of Police, while Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, would be awarded the Doctor of Business Administration degree

    Igwe also said that Prof Virginia Dike, Prof. Eunice Okeke of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Martin Aghaji of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. Daniel Obikeze, Prof. Azuka Dike, Prof. Timothy Nwala, and Prof Emmanuel Chinwokwu of the Faculty of The Social Sciences were elevated to the status of Professor Emeritus of UNN.

  • Without knowing Ife history, we are nobody – Ooni

    Without knowing Ife history, we are nobody – Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, says Ile-Ife remains the nucleus and nexus that cannot be discountenanced by any Yoruba either at home or in the diaspora.

    Oba Ogunwusi said this during the finale of the international conference on Ile-Ife and Yoruba Civilisation, with the theme “The Nexus between Tradition and Modernity” and held on Saturday in Ile-Ife.

    “Without real history, Africans will continue to depend on foreigners to tell our stories,” he said.

    The Ooni called on all those of the Yoruba race to ensure they support the historians to conduct a thorough research on Ife history in order to put all measures in place.

    Also, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Olutayo Adesina, said tradition and modernity should not be mutually exclusive for they run into one another.

    Adesina said: “We have a lot of things to learn from history and to use to create knowledge and employment for the population of the country, for all to understand how to blend tradition and modernity together.

    “The traditional rulers are the custodians of traditions, culture and values and they are aware that there are lots of benefits derived from what we have.

    “We should shun running away from the country because we have not just mineral resources alone, but cultural resources across the nation to add values to the society,” Adesina said.

    He advised all Nigerians to cooperate to ensure that all things they have under their control are brought together to create synergy that would allow this generation to be developed.

    Also, Prof Siyan Oyeweso, the Executive Director, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, thanked those present at the programme to present the history of their families.

    “What these ‘compounds’ have done will be useful in the nearest future,” he said.

    Oyeweso applauded the past heroes, such as Pa Eni Fasogbon and Pa Micheal Fabunmi, among others, who had written on the history of Ile-Ife.

    He added that Prof Isaac Akinjogbin, Prof Isola Olomola, Prof. Abiodun Adediran and Prof Toyin Falola had also done a great job previously on the history of Ile-Ife.

    Oyeweso solicited the Ooni’s support in the collation and documentation of Yoruba history during the 2023 International Conference.

    He advised the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Simeon Bamire on the establishment of an Archeology Department so as to deepen research on the early phases of Ife history.

  • Kamaldeen Pedro shares experience meeting Ooni of Ife

    Kamaldeen Pedro shares experience meeting Ooni of Ife

    Filmmaker Kamaldeen Pedro had the esteemed privilege of meeting the highly revered monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), within the opulent walls of the Ooni’s palace. This momentous meeting took place during the filming of Pedro’s latest cinematic creation, ‘Ka bi osi,’ within the scenic landscape of Osun State.

    Pedro’s encounter with the Ooni of Ife proved to be an unforgettable experience for the filmmaker.

    When asked about the encounter, Pedro expressed his elation, saying, “I feel elated and excited meeting Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. It’s a great privilege and honor. He is such an approachable king, always willing to support young Nigerians.” Pedro’s words echo the sentiment of many who have had the honor of meeting Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, known for his warmth and commitment to empowering the youth.

    During their conversation, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi shared his profound wisdom and urged Pedro and his fellow filmmakers to uphold the rich Yoruba culture wherever their creative journeys take them. He encouraged them to tell stories that promote and project the essence of their culture, reminding them of the vital role art plays in preserving and celebrating heritage.

    ‘Ka bi osi’ holds immense promise as Pedro’s latest cinematic endeavor. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant Osun State, the film promises to captivate audiences while also serving as a vehicle for cultural preservation and dissemination. With Pedro’s dedication to his craft and the invaluable support and encouragement from the Ooni of Ife, ‘Ka bi osi’ is poised to be a cinematic masterpiece that bridges the past and present, offering a glimpse into the heart of Yoruba culture.