Ooni Of Ife, Ogunwusi, Ascended Our Father Oduduwa’s Throne – Olu Of Warri

The 20th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwole I, ascended the throne in December 2015, following the passage of his elder brother, Ogiame Atuwatse II in September 2015.
It is worthy of note that the Itsekiris whose paramount ruler is the Olu of Warri have a strong historical lineage with the Yorubas. The Itsekiris are believed to be the ones who carried the Oduduwa civilization to the Urhobos and the Ijaws in Delta State.
Penultimate week, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, had listed Yoruba kings in this order: Ooni of Ife(1st); Alaafin of Oyo(2nd) ; Oba of Benin(3rd); Alake of Egbaland(4th) and Awujale of Ijebuland(5th).
Only the Palace of Oba of Benin has spoken on this issue that “Ooni of Ife is Oba of Benin’s son, and that they are not in the same class”. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in a follow-up statement said “I’m not interested in supremacy battle”.
The Itsekiris however have a different view from the Binis who believe that the Ooni of Ife is the Oba of Benin’s son. The Olu of Warri made this subtle affirmation in a 1-page ‘thank-you’ newspaper message to eminent Nigerians who graced his coronation ceremony.
Thanking the royal fathers present and acknowledging the Ooni of Ife as ‘leading all kings in attendance’, the first-class monarch said: “All Royal fathers present led by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, who defied all permutations to personally attend the coronation, barely a few days after he himself ascended the ancient throne of our father Oduduwa.”
Following Ooni of Ife on the list are the Oba’s Palace and Benin Traditional Council; the Obi of Onitsha; the Emir of Kano; the Etsu Nupe; and other first-class kings.