The Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba Obateru Akinruntan has claimed to be the leader of all the traditional leaders in Yoruba land, and the custodian of the authentic history of the race.
The claim made by the traditional ruler comes following the major altercation between the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
The Olugbo of Ugbo land while speaking at an event which marked the 30th anniversary of Kola Olootu as a radio presenter in Ibadan on Sunday noted that he had published a book in which he ranked himself above other monarchs in Yoruba land.
The monarch who is also the Chairman of the Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee further added that he is aware of some critics of his book which he claimed detailed the tru history of Yoruba race.
Noting that he is on the brink of publishing the second volume of the book, the traditional ruler noted: “I am the leader of all obas in Yoruba land. I speak with thunder in my mouth and I make bold to say so. No one is above me in Yoruba land in as much as it has been accepted that we are from Ife. I am the one that Oduduwa met at Ife. We are the husband of Moremi Ajasoro. Anyone who wants real Yoruba blessing should approach me. I am the one bestowed with the power.”
Further entertaining a question posed on which of the accounts of the Yoruba history is true and authentic, the Oba said: “People should face the truth. My account of the history of Yoruba race is the most accurate and authentic. I have published a book on it already. Like I said, Oduduwa met my people in Ife. Don’t mind my critics who use Facebook to abuse me. The truth is that many of them are children of slaves.
“They don’t want the true story of their fathers to be told. Slaves don’t want history to be told. I am bold because I am not a son of a slave. My book is there. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has accepted the book as the authentic history of the Yoruba race. I am about to publish another book on the same subject.”