A man who recently claimed in a viral video to be the son of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has apologized to the monarch for his actions. In the initial video, the man claimed the Ooni had instructed him to keep his identity as a prince secret, and he gave a two-month ultimatum to be invited to the palace or reveal more secrets. However, the palace spokesman, Moses Olafare, dismissed the claim, stating that the man was an impersonator and the matter had been reported to security agencies.
In a new video, the man apologized to the Ooni, explaining that he had seen the monarch in two dreams, which led him to believe he had a connection with him.
He said, “I have a reason for creating that video. In 2022, I found myself beside the Ooni in my dream, engaging in discussions. Initially, I was unaware that it was a dream because Kabiyesi gave me the bead on my wrist. However, when Kabiyesi raised my hand, that was when I woke.
“Upon waking, I was perplexed about how I had encountered the Ooni of Ife but later concluded that he is the father of Oduduwa land. Dreaming about him is not unusual or inappropriate. I have never dreamt about an Oba before; typically, I dream about governors, not an Oba.
“Three days after this dream, I travelled to Ile-Ife in an attempt to meet the Ooni. Despite all my efforts, I could not see Kabiyesi, and I departed in the evening after spending the entire day at the Ooni’s palace.”
He claimed that after the dreams, he tried to meet the Ooni but was unsuccessful, leading him to create the video to attract his attention. The man clarified that he did not intend to defame the Ooni and acknowledged that he is the leader of the Oduduwa descendants, making him a father figure.
“My esteemed father, please do not be displeased with me. I did not create the video to defame you; rather, I made it to attract your attention so that I could narrate my dream to you and hopefully meet you,
“Nevertheless, you remain my father because you are the father of Oduduwa land. I implore Nigerians not to spread my video to defame the Ooni, as its purpose was to seek his attention,” he said.
The palace spokesman had earlier stated that the Ooni knows and acknowledges all his children and would take full responsibility for them, and the self-acclaimed prince is unknown to the palace and the Ile-Ife populace.
“He is not a child of Ooni Ogunwusi as fraudulently claimed, but also never related in any way to any lineage of the Ogunwusi royal family and the Giesi Royal Compound of Ile-Ife at large.”