Ultimatum to Olugbo is laughable, says monarch

THE supremacy crisis rocking the Yoruba Obas took a new twist yesterday as The Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee described the ultimatum given to Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan as empty and uncalled for.

The committee therefore, called on all Nigerians to disregard the threat.

The General Secretary of the Council of Yoruba Obas and Olojodu of Ido-osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo had last week given the Olugbo four days to tender an “unreserved apology” and retract his comments in which he claimed to be the leader of all Yoruba Obas or “face the consequences”.

Adedapo said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was the leader of all Yoruba Obas since all of them trace their ancestral home to Ile-ife.

The ultimatum expired at the weekend and the Olugbo had not retracted his claim.

He had claimed that Oduduwa, believed to the progenitor of Yoruba race met his forefathers at Ife and it would be an insult for the children of “immigrants” to claim headship over the aborigines.

But a statement by the Assistant General Secretary of Conflict Resolution Committee and Oluyani of Iyani-akoko, Ondo State, Oba Sunday Daodu yesterday described the ultimatum as laughable and baseless, and urged Nigerians to disregard the threat.

The monarch also described the claim of Olojodu to have been the General Secretary of Yoruba Council of Obas as presumptuous as such a body does not exist.

“Yoruba Obas are still baffled by the disgraceful statement credited to Oba Aderemi Adedapo. Even a dog will not receive payment to venture into the den of a lion, but the Olojudo has acted much lower than his status by issuing an ultimatum to the Olugbo for a retraction of a statement made by him.