Following reports which surfaced online regarding the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi’s failed marriage to Olori Wuraola Zaynab, a source close to the Royal father and traditional ruler has revealed the reason behind the continued silence of the Yoruba leader.
Coming after the wedding which held in Edo state 17 months ago, Olori Wuraola was reported to have been sent packing from the Palace, a move which she confirmed recently on her social media page via Instagram.
The publisher of E247, Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi, a close friend to the king and his family has however reacted to the marriage crash stating that the Ooni is not just like any other person, he further added that the importance of the monarch transcends the distraction that the marital issue represents.
Kupoluyi in a statement released revealed that the Ooni’s position is a sacred one, one which he has used to positively affect the lives and welfare of Ife people, Yoruba culture and national unity.
He stated that the media should not expect any further development from the throne as the matter needed to be treated delicately.
In the statement released, Kupoluyi noted that in a situation such as this, no one should expect the Ooni to spill and spew his details just like an ordinary person.
“It bears reiterating that the institution being discussed with excitable animation is not only profoundly sacred, the monarch’s silence – in the face of a robust commitment to flipping the script on the expediency of traditional monarchy – should also be respected, not viewed as a weakness. Some have speculated that the marriage broke down irretrievably when the Ooni declared his readiness to marry a second wife.
“By Jove, the purveyors of the untruths forget that not only is the Ooni entitled to as many wives as his royal loins can accommodate and satisfy, Olori Wuraola is also well aware of this and could never raise or have raised any eyebrow if the discussion came up. The Ooni’s silence is no sign of weakness; it is the hallmark of a monarch who is far too driven by his singular commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for Yoruba unity, culture and heritage.”
Kupoluyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Flip TV, added: “Since his enthronement, the Ooni has made the unity, peace and prosperity of the Yoruba race his focus, not fanning the embers of discord and disunity. Despite the documented frostiness between the thrones of the Ooni of Ife and the Alafin of Oyo, which had spanned over 79years, it is on record that Oba Ogunwusi broke that jinx when he paid an unscheduled visit to Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in his palace in Oyo about three months after he became the Ooni.
“The unprecedented visit made an emotional Alaafin to declare, ‘This special visit was done last in March 1937. That is the first time the kings in Yorubaland met in Oyo town and, today, history is made with the visit of the Arole Oodua, Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11. I feel delighted to host you and to reassure you that I will be ready to work with you. May your reign be long, Ooni. I am happy with your moves to unite all Yoruba obas.’
“Prior to the celebrated visit to the Alaafin, Oba Ogunwusi had embarked on a familiarisation tour to all Yoruba monarchs during which he preached a harmonious relationship among them and the need to always speak with one voice. It was in the same vein that he embarked on a 10-day visit to the United Kingdom last March during which he engaged mainstream British cultural leaders, heritage institutions, diplomatic circles and academics to discuss issues of mutual interest, partnership, collaboration, academic transformational networks while rebuilding the scale of support for entrepreneurship skills that are modern, creative and innovative. The Ooni further said that the visit would stimulate further cooperation by promoting Yoruba culture as a genuine catalyst for British government cultural integration projects.”
The statement further pointed out some other good deeds of the monarch to include sponsorship of a musical competition, youth-focused Ojaja II Musical Talent Haunt and Concert, won by Shina Olawale who was gifted a car and a record deal in the United States, a N7.6bn Grand Resort being built in Ife, and the unveiling of the tallest statue in Nigeria and third tallest in Africa, the Statue of Moremi in Ile Ife.