Ooni alleges plot to disgrace his throne
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Oba Ogunwusi Ojoja 1, has alleged plans to discredit his throne by some unscrupulous people.
In a statement issued at the palace and made available to Irohinoodua, the Ooni alleges organised plot to destroy his name.
In a statement signed by the Palace spokesperson, Moses Onifade, said the Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife is not unaware of a video being circulated by practitioners of jungle journalism on the social media through which several claims against the respected monarch were made in respect to the destructions of farmlands.
Onifade said “In the said video, a group of people led by someone who claimed to have come from Ibadan to farm on the land were mobilized to report the activities of some Chinese nationals alleged to have been sent by the Ooni who according them had been paid a large sum of money.”
Ooni wondered why descendants of Oduduwa globally would allow themselves to be used against their own source and heritage.
He said it is equally pathetic to realize the damage being currently done by the malicious video especially against the person, image and character of the Arole Oduduwa.
The Ooni said “To set the record straight, it is imperative to state that the disputed land is located at Aruwa village within Alaba-Ijesa community in Atakumosa West Local Government. It is an Ijesa land under the paramount rulership of Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland.”
Ooni said the traditional ruler of the town ‘Oba Alaba of Aba-Ijesa who should have been earlier contacted before the stage managed video is still alive and should be the one to clarify on the matter.
He said Chinese nationals were neither interviewed nor allowed to talk as they were never contracted by the Ooni and they were not in any way representing the Ooni’s palace as maliciously alleged.
He urged those associating them with the Ooni or the respected Palace of Ife without seeing their Identity cards or documents to back such claims were only being mischievous.
“For the sake of record, the Palace of the Ooni which houses several traditional courts through which issues including those related to land grabbing, domestic violence, chieftaincy matters among others are being resolved amicably is always made open to such complaints” Ooni said adding that true or false, such a matter should have been reported to the Ooni whose Palace is always open to seek clarifications and get his side of the story.
Ooni said “Unfortunately, the Ooni and other right-thinking individuals who saw the stage-managed video laughed over the comedy and prayed that the good Almighty Olodumare forgives those behind the campaign of calumny. In the same vein, the agents of confusion are equally implored to desist from such shameful act.”
The Ooni urged the entire public to ignore the video and its fabricated lies in its entirety.