The Oore of Otun-Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Mobaland, His Royal Majesty Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, has firmly debunked reports alleging that the Ooni of Ife conferred the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on any individual, describing the claim as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Akogun Banjo Ayinde, the Oore reacted to what he termed “media attacks” allegedly emanating from the Alaafin’s palace against the House of Odùduwà. He stressed that the influence and royal territories of the Ooni of Ife, as the Arole Odùduwà, extend beyond Yorubaland into other parts of Africa, including the Itsekiri of Delta State, the Benin Kingdom, Ga and Ashanti kingdoms in Ghana, the Luo of Uganda, and other Odùduwà-linked communities across the continent.
The statement categorically denied that the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has ever conceived, discussed, or installed anyone as Okanlomo of Yorubaland. It challenged anyone in possession of verifiable historical or cultural evidence to present such proof publicly. According to the Oore, while the Ooni possesses unquestionable ancestral and spiritual authority to bestow territorial titles when necessary, his reign has been focused on broader objectives of unity, peace, and development among Odùduwà descendants worldwide.
Clarifying further, the Oore noted that since ascending the throne, the Ooni has carried out only three official territorial chieftaincy installations — Odole Oodua, Iyalaje Oodua, and Yeye Oodua — all rooted in deep spiritual and ancestral traditions. He added that the Ooni’s leadership philosophy prioritizes socio-economic development, citing major investments and projects across Yorubaland that have created thousands of jobs for youths.
The statement also cautioned against what it described as outdated struggles for emperorship, noting that constitutional democracy has long eroded such notions. It urged the public to seek clarity on any Supreme Court judgments being referenced in the controversy, warning against attempts to drag the sacred stool of the Ooni into disputes that do not concern it.
Reaffirming the Ooni’s position as the natural father and spiritual head of the Odùduwà race, the Oore of Moba emphasized that leadership is earned through service, wisdom, and acceptability, not through force or threats. The House of Odùduwà, he concluded, remains committed to peace, unity, and prosperity across Yorubaland and the wider African space.