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| A Portrait of the Ooni of Ife, HRM, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) |
A legal
expert, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo (Ph-D) has given new insights into the
recent supremacy battle between the paramount ruler of Ugbo land in Ondo State
(South West Nigeria), His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Federick Enitolorunda Obateru
Akinrutan and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan
Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) over the real owners of Ile-Ife the cradle of Yoruba
Civilization in Africa.
expert, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo (Ph-D) has given new insights into the
recent supremacy battle between the paramount ruler of Ugbo land in Ondo State
(South West Nigeria), His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Federick Enitolorunda Obateru
Akinrutan and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan
Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) over the real owners of Ile-Ife the cradle of Yoruba
Civilization in Africa.
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The battle so far…
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| Oba (Dr.) Frederick Enitolorunda Obateru Akinrutan (Olugbo of Ugbo land) |
The Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba
F.E. O. Akinrutan had claimed a new book he is about to publish, that
his forefathers from Ugbo originally
owned Ile-Ife. In the book, he noted that evidence abound
that Oduduwa
the progenitor of the Yoruba people met
his forefathers in Ile-Ife when he came from Mecca. One of the reasons for this
exposure according to the oil baron turned traditional ruler is to ensure that
the role of Ugbo kingdom in Yoruba history is not lost in the mist
of time. So he had to re-write that history to navigate the place of Ugbo land in the Yoruba cosmogony. The
extent of his claim is to justify his supremacy to the Ooni’s stool and that of other Obas
in Yoruba land. He claims that he has
over 2000 historical authorities to back up his claim. Hear the Olugbo
“The truth is that the Ugbos are the owners of Ile-Ife, and we are the percusor of the
Yoruba race. We got to Ile-Ife
before Oduduwa and our seven
quarters are still there till date. Ife
might be the ancestral home of our Yoruba
brothers but it is an Ugbo settlement”.
F.E. O. Akinrutan had claimed a new book he is about to publish, that
his forefathers from Ugbo originally
owned Ile-Ife. In the book, he noted that evidence abound
that Oduduwa
the progenitor of the Yoruba people met
his forefathers in Ile-Ife when he came from Mecca. One of the reasons for this
exposure according to the oil baron turned traditional ruler is to ensure that
the role of Ugbo kingdom in Yoruba history is not lost in the mist
of time. So he had to re-write that history to navigate the place of Ugbo land in the Yoruba cosmogony. The
extent of his claim is to justify his supremacy to the Ooni’s stool and that of other Obas
in Yoruba land. He claims that he has
over 2000 historical authorities to back up his claim. Hear the Olugbo
“The truth is that the Ugbos are the owners of Ile-Ife, and we are the percusor of the
Yoruba race. We got to Ile-Ife
before Oduduwa and our seven
quarters are still there till date. Ife
might be the ancestral home of our Yoruba
brothers but it is an Ugbo settlement”.
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| Oba Enita Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) |
“Yoruba history has it that Oduduwa met my great, great grandfather
called Obamakin Osangangan, son of Oramfe in Ile-Ife and even Ife sons
have written lots of books testifying to this” Olugbo
claimed. However, a dark aspect of the research is where the book slightly
declared Moremi a well-regarded female figure in Ife cosmology as a traitor and villain who played a role in the
loosing of Ile-Ife from the Ugbos to the present settlers.
called Obamakin Osangangan, son of Oramfe in Ile-Ife and even Ife sons
have written lots of books testifying to this” Olugbo
claimed. However, a dark aspect of the research is where the book slightly
declared Moremi a well-regarded female figure in Ife cosmology as a traitor and villain who played a role in the
loosing of Ile-Ife from the Ugbos to the present settlers.
Since his
outburst, the entire Yoruba literary
sector had gone agog with questions upon questions being asked as to who is
telling a lie and who is saying the truth?
outburst, the entire Yoruba literary
sector had gone agog with questions upon questions being asked as to who is
telling a lie and who is saying the truth?
The Ajulo Insight…
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| Dr. Kayode Ajulo….’His insights brings fresh perspective to the Ooni/Olugbo supremacy battle’ |
In a recent
encounter with Asabeafrika inside his Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Castle
of Law Chambers, Dr. Kayode Ajulo a legal icon and
History enthusiast started by putting up a snag when we threw the question at
him “Well, let me say that I am
apprehensive to answer this question” He reluctantly reacted to the very
sensitive and controversial issue after clearing his throat;
encounter with Asabeafrika inside his Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Castle
of Law Chambers, Dr. Kayode Ajulo a legal icon and
History enthusiast started by putting up a snag when we threw the question at
him “Well, let me say that I am
apprehensive to answer this question” He reluctantly reacted to the very
sensitive and controversial issue after clearing his throat;
“I believe there are some places
where even Angels fear to tread. But if we have to be sincere here, then, we
must set aside sentiment. If you don’t know your history, it is like you don’t
know where you are coming from and you don’t even know where you are going”.
where even Angels fear to tread. But if we have to be sincere here, then, we
must set aside sentiment. If you don’t know your history, it is like you don’t
know where you are coming from and you don’t even know where you are going”.
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| Dr. Ajulo enlightens the GDA more on the Ile-Ife & Ugbo History |
The former National
Secretary of Labor Party continued “The only thing I will just say is that everybody should try to
understand Olugbo as much as we are
trying to understand Ooni of Ife.
They are our royal fathers and it is about history and history depends on who
is narrating it. But one thing that is pertinent is this; to every coin, there
must be two sides. If you are a hero to me, to some people, you are a villain”.
“If you are a good man to me, to some
people you are a bad man. Today, we are abusing Boko Haram, we are ready to
kill them, and we are ready to burn them because Boko Haram is undesirable
element. But mind you, members of Boko Haram have families. To their family
members, they are heroes and gallant soldiers. They even pray for them. This is
the truth”.
Secretary of Labor Party continued “The only thing I will just say is that everybody should try to
understand Olugbo as much as we are
trying to understand Ooni of Ife.
They are our royal fathers and it is about history and history depends on who
is narrating it. But one thing that is pertinent is this; to every coin, there
must be two sides. If you are a hero to me, to some people, you are a villain”.
“If you are a good man to me, to some
people you are a bad man. Today, we are abusing Boko Haram, we are ready to
kill them, and we are ready to burn them because Boko Haram is undesirable
element. But mind you, members of Boko Haram have families. To their family
members, they are heroes and gallant soldiers. They even pray for them. This is
the truth”.
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| Dr. Kayode Ajulo to Asabeafrika….’Every Coin has two sides. Every History has two sides’ |
Moremi, Ooni & Olugbo…
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| The Olugbo with a guest at an event in Abuja |
Dr. Kayode Ajulo gave more insight into the sentiments
raised by Oba Akinrutan in his yet
to be published book. Hear him; “On the
issue of Moremi, from the history as it is, you don’t even need Olugbo to tell you anything; you don’t
need to narrate anything. It is obviously clear that this woman was a heroine;
and there must be the other side of the coin. Fortunately or unfortunately, Olugbo may be on the other side of the
coin. So, to him, Moremi must be a
villain, Moremi must be castigated
and everyone is entitled to his opinion. Look at what happened in the Bible. According
to the Bible, the Lord spoke to Abraham
and said ‘Look, I will make you a father of many. This land I have given to you
unto this day’. Mind you, that land (God is giving to Abraham) some people inhabit
it. If you ask those people today, to tell you who is God?’ They will simply
tell you ‘that is not God’, because He was not on their side”.
raised by Oba Akinrutan in his yet
to be published book. Hear him; “On the
issue of Moremi, from the history as it is, you don’t even need Olugbo to tell you anything; you don’t
need to narrate anything. It is obviously clear that this woman was a heroine;
and there must be the other side of the coin. Fortunately or unfortunately, Olugbo may be on the other side of the
coin. So, to him, Moremi must be a
villain, Moremi must be castigated
and everyone is entitled to his opinion. Look at what happened in the Bible. According
to the Bible, the Lord spoke to Abraham
and said ‘Look, I will make you a father of many. This land I have given to you
unto this day’. Mind you, that land (God is giving to Abraham) some people inhabit
it. If you ask those people today, to tell you who is God?’ They will simply
tell you ‘that is not God’, because He was not on their side”.
“That is exactly what happened
between the Olugbo and the Ooni. But it now depends on the way
people manage it. I believe the symbolism of it is what we should not lose. We
don’t need to even discuss it. And I believe, I am not speaking for Olugbo. Olugbo is a royal father, he is a respected one. He is somebody
that personally, I know very well. I know his intention, it is not to cause confusion
and I know that Olugbo is not saying
today, I want to go to Ile-IFE to go
and take over the throne of my fore-father. That is not the case. The case is
just to remind you, ‘this is who we are, and this is how we manage to find
ourselves here’. It is so clear and I think that is the history, the reason,
the symbolism and that is what we should hold on to, rather than turning it
into another thing”
between the Olugbo and the Ooni. But it now depends on the way
people manage it. I believe the symbolism of it is what we should not lose. We
don’t need to even discuss it. And I believe, I am not speaking for Olugbo. Olugbo is a royal father, he is a respected one. He is somebody
that personally, I know very well. I know his intention, it is not to cause confusion
and I know that Olugbo is not saying
today, I want to go to Ile-IFE to go
and take over the throne of my fore-father. That is not the case. The case is
just to remind you, ‘this is who we are, and this is how we manage to find
ourselves here’. It is so clear and I think that is the history, the reason,
the symbolism and that is what we should hold on to, rather than turning it
into another thing”
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| The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi….’He has refused to react to Olugbo’s claims’ |
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Dr. Kayode Ajulo rounded up with a clincher when he
said this “What really surprised me….
because I have seen Olugbo saying so
nice things about Ooni”
said this “What really surprised me….
because I have seen Olugbo saying so
nice things about Ooni”
We asked if
he was serious with his statement and he thundered back a response “I am serious! I am sure Olugbo’s fight is not personal. I am very, very sure. I think you
need to visit Olugbo to hear his
side of the story. And I am sure Oba
Adeyeye in his heart of heart will never wish Olugbo bad, no. It is about history. It is just like the story of the Roman
Empire. There was a time the Roman Empire was ruling the world and for Rome to
now say ‘we want to challenge America for power’. It is not done. There is a time
and a season.
he was serious with his statement and he thundered back a response “I am serious! I am sure Olugbo’s fight is not personal. I am very, very sure. I think you
need to visit Olugbo to hear his
side of the story. And I am sure Oba
Adeyeye in his heart of heart will never wish Olugbo bad, no. It is about history. It is just like the story of the Roman
Empire. There was a time the Roman Empire was ruling the world and for Rome to
now say ‘we want to challenge America for power’. It is not done. There is a time
and a season.
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| A very Sober Dr. Kayode Ajulo gives historic insight into the Olugbo/Ooni dilemma over Ile-Ife |
So I am very sure, Olugbo
just needed to raise that to remind us and I think Olugbo deserves our commendation. For reminding us of history, for
telling us ‘this is what it is’, he deserve our kudos. However, I believe in
reminding us, it shouldn’t be a celebration of our defeat. We should discuss
something that binds us together. We are all Yorubas and I think that is what it is”.
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| The GDA with Dr. Kayode Ajulo after the encounter |
(Watch out for Video
Edition on YouTube channel “Gbenga Dan Asabe” later)
Edition on YouTube channel “Gbenga Dan Asabe” later)
