The Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has reaffirmed his ancestral ties to Ile-Ife and declared unwavering loyalty to the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
The revered monarch made the declaration during a special thanksgiving service held in Akure on Saturday as part of activities marking his 10th Coronation Anniversary.
In his remarks, Oba Aladelusi described the Ooni of Ife as the father of the Yoruba race, stressing that the Deji of Akure throne has always recognized and submitted to the spiritual and cultural supremacy of the Ooni’s stool.
“I’m so glad to see my father, the Ooni of Ife, here today attending my 10th Coronation Anniversary,” the Deji stated. “Ooni remains the overall father of the Yoruba race. He is the father of the Deji of Akure, while I remain his son. That’s what I inherited from my predecessors, who were all loyal to the past Oonis.”
He further acknowledged the ancient roots of Yoruba civilization, stating that while Akure may be more cosmopolitan today, Ile-Ife remains the ancestral home and spiritual headquarters of the Yoruba people.
“Akure today is bigger and more cosmopolitan than Ile-Ife, but Ile-Ife remains the ancestral home and traditional headquarters of the entire Yoruba race because that’s the kingdom that gave birth to all others in Yorubaland,” he added.
The monarch also paid tribute to other royal dignitaries present, including the Olowo of Owo, who chairs the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers.
“I felt honored walking in to meet my chairman, the Olowo of Owo, and my father, the Ooni of Ife, already seated. Baba Ooni even queried me for coming late, and I replied, ‘Even if you had been here three hours before me, Baba, you’ve only come to honour your son because I am your son. No matter how big a son becomes, he remains a son to his father.’”
It will be recalled that in 2016, Oba Aladetoyinbo publicly emphasized that only monarchs who can trace their lineage to Ile-Ife are true descendants of Oduduwa. He stressed that the Ooni of Ife, being the custodian of Oduduwa’s throne, deserves reverence from all Yoruba monarchs without exception.
According to him, the Deji’s stool is rooted in the heritage of Asodeboyede, a descendant of Ekun, who was a son of Oduduwa.
