The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday said Benin Kingdom in Edo State remained part of the expansive Yoruba race, a pronouncement that may spark fresh rivalry and altercation between people of the two ancient kingdoms.

The monarch made the comment in reaction to a statement credited to the palace of the Oba of Benin challenging the claim by the Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, that the Ooni of Ife remained the pre-eminent spiritual leader in Yorubaland and environs.

Oba Ogunwusi, via a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, made available to PREMIUM TIMES, said he was not interested in any supremacy battle with anyone but that he would continue to put the records straight and avoid distortion of history from any quarters.

The monarch said going by historical evidence detailing the Oduduwa lineage, Benin Kingdom remained part and parcel of Oduduwa House.

“We in Oduduwa land have always seen and regarded our people in Benin kingdom as part and parcel of Oduduwa House. They are our brothers and sisters, coupled with historical facts to back up this position,” Ooni Ogunwusi said.

“The statement credited to the Alake of Egbaland, did not emanate from us but the reality is that as a highly experienced and well informed monarch, Kabiyesi Alake, who is a bonafide Oodua descendant is entitled to his opinion based on his knowledge and understanding of history,” the Ooni said.

“Let me emphasize for the umpteenth time that Kabiyesi Ooni is less concerned over any supremacy hullabaloo. He is only interest for now in how the sacred throne of Oduduwa can explore measures through which the collective interest and genuine unity among Yoruba and other tribes within the larger House of Oduduwa can be enhanced.

“This informed his resolve to build bridges of harmony among Yourba Obas. I am resolutely committed to how Yoruba ethnic group can restore its glory and pride of position among other ethnic inclinations in Nigeria and don’t want to be dragged into supremacy contest or join issues with anybody.”

The traditional ruler said he recalled that about six years ago, attempt was made by some people to upturn history during the launch of a book titled: I REMAIN SIR, YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANT, which he said stood historical facts on its head.

Oba Ogunwusi stated that If the position espoused by the Oba of Benin Palace in the media “is aimed at distancing our people in Benin from the South West and Yoruba, so be it.”

He however added, “We still identify with them as our kinsmen, regardless of the attempt to change the course of history.”

The Alake had, while hosting the Oba Ogunwusi in his palace on February 7, rated the Ooni as the number one monarch in Yorubaland and other territories considered part of the Oduduwa House.

In his rating, Oba Gbadebo said Oba Ogunwusi was number one of the five principal Obas in Yorubaland, followed by the Alaafin of Oyo, then by the Oba of Benin (in third position), the Alake of Egbaland (fourth) and the Awujale of Ijebuland (fifth).

But in a swift reaction on Tuesday, the Esogban of Benin and Odionwere of the Kingdom, David Edebiri, rejected the ranking, saying the Ooni of Ife was a son of the Oba of Benin and that the Oba of Benin stool has no relationship with the Yoruba race.

The Esogban said, “We wanted to discard this report as something that was not necessary at all. We do not see how the Alake of Egbaland suddenly woke up to think that the Oba of Benin is also a Yoruba Oba.

“There is no basis for such classification; Oba of Benin has nothing to do with the Yoruba Obas. It is simply unnecessary, unless they simply want to stir up an unnecessary controversy.

“We are not in Yorubaland. To be frank, it is because many of them are not willing to come up with the truth, the word Oba is alien to Yoruba monarchy; it is not part of their title from time immemorial.

“For instance, the one they call the Oba of Lagos, these are recent adaptations. In the 50s, there was no Oba of Lagos, what we had was the Eleko of Eko. That is the title of the King there. In Ibadan, you have the Olu Ibadan. You come to Abeokuta, you have the Alake of Egba land. You come to Oyo, you have the Alaafin of Oyo. In Ilesha, you have the Owa-Obokun of IIesha. So no Yoruba monarch had as part of his titles the word Oba except the Oba of Benin.

“That word Oba is indigenous to Benin. It is only in recent times you find everybody bearing Oba. When the Western Regional conference of traditional rulers took place in Benin City in 1942, go and check the attendance, there was no other monarch in the whole of the Western Region then that bore the title of Oba, except the Oba of Benin.

“So it is an unnecessary excursion, an unnecessary attempt to turn history upside down by the Alake by classifying the Oba of Benin as third in the hierarchy of kings.

“Our own traditional history says that the Ooni of Ife was a Benin Prince who wandered from here to Ife, settled there and became the ruler there. That is the position, if they don’t know, they should send people here; we will teach them.

“We will show them landmarks. So this is unnecessary misrepresentation of history. Maybe the Alake wanted to mention a different place and not Benin.

“The monarchical rulership in this part of the world started from Benin during the era of the Ogisos. It was the son of the last Ogiso, Owodo, that wandered from here to Ife and he became a ruler there, carrying everything about the Benin monarchical system to that place. There is no basis for such classification.

“The Ooni of Ife, by historical facts, is a son of the Oba of Benin, so they are not in the same class. The Oba of Benin is the only one that answers Oba, the rest don’t. But today, we hear Oba here and there, they are all recent adaptations. I am saying categorically that the word Oba is indigenous to Benin and not to Yoruba nation.”




http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/198255-benin-kingdom-edo-yoruba-territory-ooni-ife-adeyeye-ogunwusi.html

Yeah

The original media release by Oonis Media Assistant WS not this categorical,wot happened.

how about d obong of calabar? which class do we now place him. U obas should just relax and concentrate on rulership of it various subject rather dan duel on necessary squabble.

how about d obong of calabar? which class do we now place him. U obas should just relax and concentrate on rulership of ur
various subject rather dan duel on necessary squabble.

Sai Bini Kingdom

the binis are saying that there is nothing like oba in yorubaland but its a lie because even before they start using the title (oba) people are already answering the name. Sango's second wife's name name is Oba who according to history turned into a river in the present day IWOLAND.

the binis are saying that there is nothing like oba in yorubaland but its a lie because even before they start using the title (oba) people are already answering the name. Sango's second wife's name name is Oba who according to history turned into a river in IWOLAND.

Tunami:
the binis are saying that there is nothing like oba in yorubaland but its a lie because even before they start using the title (oba) people are already answering the name. Sango's second wife's name name is Oba who according to history turned into a river in IWOLAND.

These are Myths and Folklore's. These was never Sango or whatever.

Btw is it not the same Ooni that goes kneeling before Tinubu and Obasanjo to be nominated and installed as ooni. He should read his history books if his father did not.

LIKE THIS 'OWANMBE' KING WAN KPEME, HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE THE GREAT OBA OF BENIN. THE OBA OF BENIN IS NOT LIKE OTHER OBAS THAT THRIVE ON BRIBES, AND THAT MAKES HIS 'JUJU' SO POTENT THAT EVEN THE ONI OF IFE CAN BE 'GUNNED DOWN' BY THE GREAT OBA OF BENIN.

Historical Fact

Hmmm

Ooni is too young to start unnecessary controversy...the monarch that almost colonized almost the entire southern Nigeria(from Lagos to kogi to bayelsa) and part of middle belt is now under u?.. If not for British punitive expedition of 1896,ooni would have been conquered by oba of Benin....
many first class monarchs are under oba of Benin,especially oba of Lagos,obi of onitsha,asagba of asaba,olu of Warri,dein of agbo etc. Even the traditional name of Lagos,'eko' is a bini word....ooni should go and rest joor

Oba agha t'okpe e!....ise!

How relevant is this so called Ooni to the speedy progress of this nation? All talks and nothing.

K

Oba of great wisdom, ogbon poju

Taking charge

una don start again

Why fighting on who own the other... when money no they town.

But i think d binis are telling d truth

Ok

Childish

“The Ooni of Ife, by historical facts, is a son of the Oba of Benin, so they are not in the same class".

How can the guy from benin be contradicting himself by saying the Ooni of Ife was a son of the Oba of Benin and at the same time saying that the Oba of Benin stool has no relationship with the Yoruba race. I don't get it.

Na so. Alake and Oba of Benin have given us their accounts. Now to Awujale and Alaafin.

Lies or fairytale


The bini monarch part and the true story

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/supremacy-rating-benin-palace-takes-on-alake-of-egbaland/

I await the Oba of Benin response to this.