The palace of the Ooni of Ife has responded to a viral video featuring a middle-aged man claiming to be the son of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the reigning monarch. In the footage, the unidentified individual, adorned in traditional attire, asserts his lineage to the Ooni and recounts instructions from the monarch to maintain secrecy about his identity.
However, the palace swiftly refuted these assertions, denouncing the man as an impersonator. Moses Olafare, the palace spokesperson, emphasized that the matter has been escalated to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and action.
Olafare reiterated the Ooni’s commitment to recognizing and taking responsibility for all his children, asserting that the alleged prince in the video is not recognized by the palace or the wider community of Ile-Ife.
The spokesperson urged the individual behind the video to cease their deceptive actions, emphasizing the palace’s dedication to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. He underscored that the palace will not tolerate any attempts to undermine or tarnish its legacy through fraudulent means.
