A United States-based businesswoman and custodian of Yoruba traditional history, Erelu Tinuade Mabel Onaneye, has warned the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale, against making further remarks she described as derogatory and defamatory against the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Onaneye, who is widely known as Erelu Oodua, said the Ooni of Life remained the preeminent ruler of the Yoruba race, stressing that his position, heritage and authority could not be equated with any other throne in Yorubaland.
She said, “Upon all the defamatory and derogatory blackmail you, Oluwo of Iwo, Emir Albudrasheed Adewale, have hurled at His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the first and foremost King of the Yoruba race, it must be said without mincing words: in status, in heritage and in authority, Ooni is not your mate. Accept your fate, stay in your lane and confine yourself to being monarch of Iwoland.”
Erelu Oodua urged Yoruba traditional rulers to preserve the sanctity of their thrones and avoid unnecessary rivalry that could undermine the unity of the race.
She maintained that the Ooni’s position as custodian of Yoruba culture and spiritual head of the race was beyond dispute, insisting that attempts to diminish the status of the Ife throne would amount to distorting history.
Onaneye added that Yoruba sons and daughters at home and abroad must continue to uphold the dignity of their royal institutions, saying mutual respect among traditional rulers remained key to protecting the cultural identity of the people.
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