When two of the most revered custodians of the Yoruba heritage engage in a public spat reminiscent of vengeful tribal wars of bygone eras, whose side is one to take? This is the question on the lips of social observers in the South West as the Ooni of Ife and Olugbo of Ugbo engage in a bitter media fight.The two respected Yoruba monarchs appear to be engaged in a verbal war over the status of Moremi Ajasoro, one of the most revered female figures in Yoruba history. While the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, regards Moremi is a heroine who deserves to be revered for saving her people, the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, believes that she was a traitor who betrayed her people.
While the two monarchs appear poised to go for each other’s jugular, influential men and women are trying to settle the dispute before it escalates. But immediate reconciliation does not look likely as the two monarchs’ positions are based on differing interpretations of history.
Historically, the Ooni and the Olugbos are known to always be at loggerheads over who between them has the rightful claim to Ile-Ife, among other matters. The current disagreement began when the Ooni built a 42-foot statue in Moremi’s honour; a development that saw the Olugbo accusing him of misrepresenting on history.
Expectedly, however, Oba Ogunwusi received the backing of two highly respected Yoruba leaders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Speaking on Wednesday at a book launch, one of the activities lined up to mark the Ooni’s first coronation anniversary, both leaders believed the place of Moremi in Yoruba history was not in doubt and advised Oba Ogunwusi to ignore any disparaging remarks against her from any quarters.
