Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Sisters of the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi have finally responded to the allegations of being partly responsible for the fallout between the king and his wife Olori Naomi.
Esabod Global News recalls that the queen, Prophetess Seyi Naomi had on December 23, 2021, announced her separation from the king after three years of marriage and an heir to the throne. The Ooni has not spoken publicly about the matter since then.
However, following rumour being spread online, the king’s sisters under the aegis of Ooni Royal Sisters, in a statement on Tuesday, January 4 signed by Princess Folashade Ogunwusi-Fadairo, said the allegations were false.
They also threatened to take legal action against those peddling false reports about them henceforth.
Their statement reads, “We refer to the campaign of calumny presently ongoing in many media blogs, media houses, on the social media and by hatchet jobbers against our family targeting us, the sisters of the Ooni of Ife as being the cause of any or all forms of misunderstanding or ‘imaginary problems’ in the Palace. These despicable humans have been circulating the ‘fake’ news on various fake media outlets on matters none of them have an inkling of but will like to speak with unreserved authority.”
Also debunking allegations that they usurp information in the palace to their advantage, the sisters said, “Since the Ooni of Ife ascended the throne of our forefathers, NONE of us (the sisters) has ever lived in the palace. None of us have ever been overtly or covertly been involved in any of the day-to-day activities of the palace. We do not make any decisions whatsoever and only visit the palace when there are special events that our family, the Giesi family are required to be involved according to tradition.
“We all live in Lagos in our different homes with our different families and are extremely busy with our businesses. We have never stopped praying for the success of our revered King, peace in Yoruba land and prosperity to all our people.”
They added that they have informed their lawyers to write to all media outlets that allow the publication of false news about them.
“Any further exposure of our individual families to unnecessary campaign of calumny by any individual or group will not be tolerated and will be met with legal actions,” they said.
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