19/07/2025
I'M YOUR SON, DEJI OF AKURE TELLS OONI OF IFE
The Deji and paramount rule of Akureland, His Imperial Majesty has again declared himself a bonafide descendant of Oduduwa and undoubted son of the Ooni of Ife, pledging his continued loyalty as a legacy handed him by his predecessors who had been in their different times subjected themselves to the royal supremacy of the throne of the Ooni of Ife
The Yoruba notable monarch who is a senior member of the Southern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers under the chairmanship of the Ooni of Ife made the declaration on Saturday during a church Thanksgiving Session marking his 10th Year Coronation Anniversary activities in Akure Ondo state.
"I'm so glad to see my father; the Ooni of Ife here today attending my 10th Coronation Anniversary as Deji of Akure Kingdom. Ooni remains the overall father of the Yoruba race,. He's the father of Deji of Akure while I remain his son that's what I inherited from my predecessors who were all loyal to the past Oonis as their fathers at different times."
"Akure today is bigger and more cosmopolitan than Ile-Ile, but Ile-Ife remains the ancestral home and traditional headquarters for the entire Yoruba race because that's the kingdom that gave birth to all the kingdoms in Yorubaland."
"I also appreciate my chairman; the Olowo of Owo who is the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers. He has been here alongside my Baba; Ooni of Ife and when I walked in meeting them already seated, I felt so honoured. Baba Ooni queried me for coming after he had arrived here and I responded: "Baba, even if had been here 3 hours before me, you've only come to honour your son of course, because I'm your son, and no matter how big a son is, he remains a son to his father. So, I, Deji of Akure remains your son, and you've only come to honour your own son". Ooni declared.
It would be recalled that the same the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi had in the year 2016 stated that only those who can trace their origins to Ile-Ife are the legitimate descendants of Oduduwa, acknowledging that whoever occupies the throne of the Ooni of Ife should be respected as the "father of the Yoruba," because they are sitting on Oduduwa's throne .
Oba Aladetoyinbo also emphasized that the throne of the Ooni of Ife represents the seat of Oduduwa, and therefore, it commands respect from all the kings in Yourubaland without exceptions. The Deji of Akure asserted his own lineage, stating that his seat as Deji is that of Asodeboyede, a son of Ekun, who was a son of Oduduwa.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni's Palace,
Ile-Ife.
