SAN FRANCISCO, November 12, (THEWILL) – According to the history of Ile-Ife on account of some erudite scholars and professor of history, it was documented that the Ugbo people in modern-day Ilaje in Ugbomokun of Ondo State were the original settlers of Ile-Ife the cradle of Yoruba before migrating to a riverine area in modern-day Ondo State. It was documented that; Ugbo people are the original settlers of Ile-Ife before Oduduwa came. This historical account has generated mixed reactions on how authentic it is. The Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Dr Fredrick Enitiolorunda Obateru Akinrutan, commissioned a comprehensive yet-to-be-launched research book as his proof backed by popular historians and scholars.
There have also been some controversies between Ooni of Ile-Ife and Olugbo of Ugbo on the issue of Moremi Ajasoro, who is a Heroine in Ile-Ife but regarded as a traitor in the Ugbo Kingdom. The Olugbo at any given opportunity is ever ready to set the records straight on issues that concern Ile-Ife. The controversies have since reached its crescendo as both Ooni and Olugbo have engaged in media war over other differences between them. For a long time, both respected monarchs have not had a one on one engagement. Sources say they have deliberately avoided each other even at public functions.
A few days ago in Lagos, at the South West Stakeholders Security meeting between South-West State Governors, Ministers, selected monarch and security chiefs presided by the Chief of Staff to the President; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, both monarchs met. They were both participants at the meeting representing the traditional institutions of their various state. Sources present divulged that; they both sat a few meters away from each other. “They did no greet nor talk to each other. Ooni sat beside the Oba of Lagos. After the meeting, when it was time for group photographs, they avoided standing beside each other for the photo session. They bost eventually stood side by side but left a space looking for someone to fill the gap. It was much later the Oba of Lagos came and filled in the gap before they took pictures.”
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Many observers are wondering when the two respected monarchs will embrace each other and forget about issues of several decades ago. Sources said; some respected south-west leaders are planning to organise a peace meeting between the two monarchs in a bid to move the Yoruba race forward.
