The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has explained why he visited President Muhammadu Buhari without his fellow Yoruba traditional rulers.
He stated this while reacting to the controversy that has trailed the January 26 visit to the Presidential Villa.
Recall that Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho had said that Ooni Ogunwusi disappointed the Yoruba race by allegedly failing to convey their pains and displeasure with the herdsmen crisis in the South-West to the president.
He further alleged that the traditional ruler was in the Aso Villa to beg for an oil bloc and received bribe in dollars.
Igboho later apologised for his outburst, and the revered monarch announced he had accepted the apology.
However, the visit also pitched the Ooni against Eselu of Iseluland, Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, who had backed Igboho in an interview with BBC Pidgin.
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Recall that Oba Akinyemi was one of three traditional rulers in Ketu communities of Yewa North LGA that accused Nigerian soldiers of conniving with Fulani herdsmen to terrorise their subjects.
Reacting to Oba Akinyemi in a WhatsApp message published by The Nation, Ooni Ogunwusi advised his colleague not to join those spreading false reports about his Aso Rock visit.
Ooni Ogunwusi explained that he was the only Yoruba traditional ruler to visit the Villa because of COVID-19 protocols observed at the nation’s seat of power.
“You cannot say you are more pained than me on all these matters as Arole Oduduwa.
“Our ancestors still live in spirit on this throne, and anybody that does negative things to the land will get the wrath of the spirit land (sic) of we Yorubas.
“You cannot be saying that (a) traditional ruler went to Abuja in the name of oil block to trade off his people.
“I am the ONLY one that went due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hear what you said now.
“Were you there when I discussed with Buhari? If I had not gone to speak the truth to power, do you have an idea of what was planned for Sunday (Igboho) and things that will happen afterward?
“Diplomacy is way better to resolve things than war, because even after the war that we all don’t pray for, you will still sit down to talk…
“Anyway, I hold my peace before you will turn it into something else again.
“Just to correct your wrong notion of going to solicit for oil block and co. It’s a lie.
“Please, I hold you in high esteem; don’t partake in false information. It’s not good spiritually.
“The spirits of our ancestors are alive and will surely fight the Yoruba cause. Peace be unto you,” Ooni Ogunwusi was quoted to have said.