Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II media aide, Comrade Moses Olafare has denied the claim by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi that the Ooni’s security aide pushed him in public.

Ooni of Ife and Oluwo of Iwo

“There were over 100 journalists and 30 camera men at the event, if such a thing happened, it would have been reported since last when the event was held. I wonder why the report is being pushed in the media to cause confusion.”

“There has been no running battle between the Ooni and Oluwo, when the Ooni arrived the venue of the occasion, Oluwo was the first among the set of prominent traditional rulers and guests that he (the Ooni) greeted.”

“Kabiyesi Ooni went to make his speech in his capacity as a co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers. On his way back to the seat right beside the representative of the President, General Dambazau (retd.), on sighting Oluwo who had come to the high table to take pictures with some dignitaries while the programme was still ongoing, he waited for some minutes to allow Oluwo leave the way to his seat.”

“The Oluwo had misunderstood as a molestation by the Ooni’s CSO was a mere protocol assignment. The CSO had the mandate to perform for his principal. The CSO politely asked the Oluwo to excuse the Ooni to be able to access his seat.”

“Going to the high table to introduce himself to Dambazzau on the high table while the programme was still on and blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat after delivering his speech and blocking the views of other guests was a breach of protocol on the part of the Oluwo.”

“In any case, when his CSO politely asked him to excuse the Ooni to get to his seat, he obliged in fairness to him and there was no problem. So, it is surprising that Oluwo is now trying to make a case out of this.”

However, the Oluwo of Iwo is insisting that the Ooni of Ife’s security aide assaulted him at Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt. He stated his position in a statement made available to the media… “Dignitaries at the event were taken aback by what they considered as a desecration of the crown as the bodyguard of the Ooni pushed a first-class paramount ruler, Oluwo.”

“As shown in the pictures, the Ooni was called to make a vote of thanks as the Oluwo was engaging the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who came to represent President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“While the Ooni was coming to his seat, his security guard descended on the Oluwo and asked him to give way or he would push him. Oluwo tried to plead with him to be patient, but he (bodyguard) resisted. He then pushed the Oluwo.”

“The monarch excused himself in order to maintain peace. The Ooni was observing and he felt satisfied with the action of his guard. Oluwo stepped aside and thereafter revisited his conversation with the minister.”