The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he conferred a chieftaincy title on Nollywood actor and comedian, James Olanrewaju, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch clarified that while Baba Ijesha recently visited the palace with his wife to celebrate the birth of their son, no traditional title was bestowed on the actor.
According to the statement, the Ooni received the couple at the Ile Oodua Palace on Wednesday and presented Baba Ijesha with a brand-new car and cash gifts as a demonstration of his fatherly love and royal generosity.
The palace explained that the expression, “Awada Konge Oduwa,” which the actor later described on his social media pages as a chieftaincy title, was merely a humorous remark made by the monarch in recognition of Baba Ijesha’s outstanding career as a comedian.
“The expression ‘Awada Konge Oduwa,’ which Baba Ijesha later described on his social media pages as a chieftaincy title, was merely a light-comedy remark made by the Ooni during a relaxed interaction in recognition of the actor’s outstanding career as a comedian. The remark was never intended to constitute a formal installation or conferment of a traditional title,” the statement said.
The Ooni noted that although Baba Ijesha, as an indigene of Ile-Ife, is deserving of honour and could be considered for a traditional title in the future, no such title has been conferred on him.
He stressed that the conferment of chieftaincy titles in Ile-Ife follows a sacred traditional process that cannot be bypassed.
“The conferment of chieftaincy titles in Ile-Ife remains a sacred traditional process governed by established customs, consultations and traditional rites, which are publicly conducted in accordance with the age-long traditions of the source. None of these customary procedures took place during the actor’s visit to the Palace,” the statement added.
While appreciating Baba Ijesha for acknowledging the kindness extended to him and his family, the monarch urged media organisations and members of the public to disregard reports claiming that the actor had been installed as the “Awada Konge Oduwa” or conferred with any chieftaincy title.
The Ooni reaffirmed his commitment to celebrating and supporting deserving sons and daughters of Ile-Ife and the Oduduwa race while preserving the sanctity, dignity and integrity of the revered traditional institution of chieftaincy.
