The Palace of Ooni of Ile Ife has refuted the news going viral that the revered monarch, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is set to take as wife the co-convener of Hope Alive, Miss Temitope Adesegun.
The palace stated that the news, apparently sponsored by some unscrupulous elements, is nothing but an element of farce and falsehood.
“The Palace notes with regret the claim and others provoking the most heated rumours of exotic voyage with the Royalty and dismisses it unequivocally. The Palace advises the media to verify from the Palace before publication,” the statement read.
Reacting to the news, Prince Jide Fadairo, CEO, House of Oduduwa Foundation and husband of Princess Folasade, the monarch’s eldest sister, said the report was a fairytale gone too far.
“Ooni’s marriage cannot be done secretly, it involves not only the Royal family, but Yoruba custom and a lot of elders and our tradition are to be taken into cognisance. Please dismiss the story, it is another fake news,” Fadairo said.
He added that the time is not propitious for the monarch who is immersed in the renaissance of Yoruba culture and promotion of the race’s customs and traditions globally.
“That’s not on His Imperial Majesty’s mind. Marriage is not something he wants to do right away. Many names have been bandied around but I can tell you they are all false, just like this case,” he said.
Another confidant and friend of Ooni, Mr. Muyiwa Leroy Afolabi corroborated Fadairo.
“Kabiyesi will carry every Ile-Ife’s sons and daughters along whenever it’s time to pick another Olori (Queen) for us.
Let’s always verify the facts before sharing,” Afolabi said.