A coalition of Yoruba interests groups — Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye, has rebuked Olori Naomi Silekunola over the manner she announced her divorce from her marriage with Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and her reported exit from the Royal House of Oduduwa.
The groups who knocked Naomi for her “public display of tantrums” said her divorce was aimed at devaluing the throne of “Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula,” insisting she has committed a “sacrilege” against the “royal stool of the Ooni of Ife and the entire Yoruba race.”
On Thursday, Naomi had in a statement posted on her verified Instagram handle@queen_silekunolanaomi_ogunwusi disclosed her decision to end to her three-year-old marriage with Ooni Ogunwusi.
The Queen, said to be a Prophetess, in the statement noted that despite struggling to make her marriage work she realised that she only had one assignment which is her son.
However, shortly after the statement had gone viral, the Spokesman of the Ooni of Ife’s palace, Chief Moses Olafare said the palace was not aware of exit of Naomi from the house of Oduduwa.
The spokesman said that the Ooni only got to know about the development on social media.
Reacting to the saga, the Yoruba groups knocked the queen for not following due process before declaring her intention.
This was contained in a statement issued by the President of the coalition, Aare (Barr) Oladotun Hassan and made available to The New Diplomat.
The groups in the statement also appealed to the Ooni as well as the entire Yorubaland to remain calm, adding that the current travails will pass away.
The statement reads, “We are aghast to read just like millions of people from all works of life on the verified pages of social media platforms belonging to Olori Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi’s Facebook and Instagram handle declaring herself divorced and separated with immediate effect, causing monumental embarrassment to the throne, the Yoruba race and all lovers of the Ooni globally. We deplore this most condemnable act of disrespect aimed at devaluing the age long tradition of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula throne.
“We wish to clarify that the throne had its modus operandi and thorough orderly guiding principles, wherein it is totally unheard of for an Olori Ooni to frivolously and peremptory announce her divorce on the pages of the social media. We have a tradition in Yoruba Land that respects and values the woman, however it seems the Olori failed to realise that being married to the Ooni estopped a woman from public display of tantrums and ridiculous misrepresentation of facts.
“We are firmly pleading with His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ooni to look beyond the current travails and obstacles as a passing wind, see the bigger picture of how all of us from diverse backgrounds support and express our unending love for His Majesty.
“Kabiyesi Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, The Ooni of Ife is an embodiment of God’s love for humanity. No matter what evil predetermined picture anyone may want to paint of the Ooni, we enjoin Kabiyesi to keep focused and determined to steer the ship of unity and development of the Yoruba race to an expected promised Land.
“We are using this medium to serve a note of warning to anyone or group abusing or using the name of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi in a most condemnable manner to henceforth desist from such sacrilegious misconduct.”
