In the
wake of the breakup of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja
II, and his former wife, Olori Wuraola, which expectedly created
shockwaves and reverberated around the world, more salacious details
have since emerged.
wake of the breakup of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja
II, and his former wife, Olori Wuraola, which expectedly created
shockwaves and reverberated around the world, more salacious details
have since emerged.
Information gleaned from various social
media platforms and other sources indicate that both parties, prior to
being joined in matrimony, were divorcees, who had been involved in
failed marriages.
media platforms and other sources indicate that both parties, prior to
being joined in matrimony, were divorcees, who had been involved in
failed marriages.
Sunday Sun
gathered that the ex-Olori Wuruola, who has reverted to her maiden
name, Zaynab Otiti-Obanor, following the breakup, had been married
twice, thereby making her failed marriage to Ooni the third marital
union that crashed. On his part, the Ooni had been garlanded with the
medals of two failed marriages before his latest (and third) broken
union.
gathered that the ex-Olori Wuruola, who has reverted to her maiden
name, Zaynab Otiti-Obanor, following the breakup, had been married
twice, thereby making her failed marriage to Ooni the third marital
union that crashed. On his part, the Ooni had been garlanded with the
medals of two failed marriages before his latest (and third) broken
union.
In the face of the serial divorce now
associated with both the Ooni and his ex-queen, a serious twist has been
added to the tale as an expert on Yoruba culture and renowned Ifa
priest, Chief Yemi Elebuibon has revealed that ex-Olori Wuraola, must
necessarily undergo appropriate traditional cleansing process to enable
her to regain normal life.
associated with both the Ooni and his ex-queen, a serious twist has been
added to the tale as an expert on Yoruba culture and renowned Ifa
priest, Chief Yemi Elebuibon has revealed that ex-Olori Wuraola, must
necessarily undergo appropriate traditional cleansing process to enable
her to regain normal life.
While noting that Ooni would not be the
first Yoruba Oba to be seperated from his wife, Elebuibon stressed,
however, that marriage breakup is not very common among Yoruba Obas.
first Yoruba Oba to be seperated from his wife, Elebuibon stressed,
however, that marriage breakup is not very common among Yoruba Obas.
However, if the breakup happens as in the
case of the Ooni and his wife, he said that, “the wife of the Oba will
be asked to consult Ifa and Ifa will give directions on how she will
make the necessary atonement for her cleansing.”
case of the Ooni and his wife, he said that, “the wife of the Oba will
be asked to consult Ifa and Ifa will give directions on how she will
make the necessary atonement for her cleansing.”
He explained further: “In Yoruba
tradition, a woman who has been married to a king cannot lay with any
other man even if the marriage breaks up. But when the right atonements
have been made, there won’t be problem.”
tradition, a woman who has been married to a king cannot lay with any
other man even if the marriage breaks up. But when the right atonements
have been made, there won’t be problem.”
On the kind of problems which an Oba’s
ex-wife might encounter if she refused to undergo the traditional
cleansing rites, Elebuibon said: “For the woman, she might not really
have a problem but for any man who sleeps with a queen or marries an
ex-queen without the appropriate cleansing, the man may die prematurely,
he may be struck with sickness or there might be retrogression in his
life.”
ex-wife might encounter if she refused to undergo the traditional
cleansing rites, Elebuibon said: “For the woman, she might not really
have a problem but for any man who sleeps with a queen or marries an
ex-queen without the appropriate cleansing, the man may die prematurely,
he may be struck with sickness or there might be retrogression in his
life.”
He explained that if an ex-queen wants to
remarry, she will have to do the cleansing with her new husband. Both
of them have to take part in the atonement procedures so that they won’t
have any future problem.
remarry, she will have to do the cleansing with her new husband. Both
of them have to take part in the atonement procedures so that they won’t
have any future problem.
“Any marriage she would be going into
must not be elaborate. They should go far away and avoid any flamboyant
wedding,” Elebuibon warned.
must not be elaborate. They should go far away and avoid any flamboyant
wedding,” Elebuibon warned.
The news of the breakup between the Ooni
and the ex-Olori, confirmed stories that had been circulating for months
on blogs, social media and some magazines, to the effect that the
marriage was troubled.
and the ex-Olori, confirmed stories that had been circulating for months
on blogs, social media and some magazines, to the effect that the
marriage was troubled.
But, last Wednesday, Olori Wuraola Zynab
Ogunwusi, released an official statement on her Instagram page to
confirm that her 17-month marriage to the one of the most revered
monarchs in Yoruba land had broken down irretrievably and was officially
over.
Ogunwusi, released an official statement on her Instagram page to
confirm that her 17-month marriage to the one of the most revered
monarchs in Yoruba land had broken down irretrievably and was officially
over.
Elebuibon, Yoruba traditionalist |
Although, both parties have refused to
give reasons for the breakup, in her statement, the ex-queen stated that
the failed marriage was not as a result of infidelity or infertility on
her part.
give reasons for the breakup, in her statement, the ex-queen stated that
the failed marriage was not as a result of infidelity or infertility on
her part.
Her words: “We have got to stop this
culture of shaming and vilifying women with false stories of infidelity
and nefarious behaviour. The spreading of false information (through
“sources” afraid to be identified), is the mark of cowardice and a cover
up for guilty parties to justify their horrific actions. There is
absolutely no truth to the media circulated lies of infidelity and
infertility – on my end.”
culture of shaming and vilifying women with false stories of infidelity
and nefarious behaviour. The spreading of false information (through
“sources” afraid to be identified), is the mark of cowardice and a cover
up for guilty parties to justify their horrific actions. There is
absolutely no truth to the media circulated lies of infidelity and
infertility – on my end.”
Although, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,
has not issued a statement, it is glaring that the once fairytale
marriage has finally packed up.
has not issued a statement, it is glaring that the once fairytale
marriage has finally packed up.
Genesis of the breakup
The collapse of the marriage can be
traced to the very beginning. Some people believe that one of the
reasons the marriage failed was because Ooni made a hasty decision to
get married to the ex-Olori, while others opined that the breakup
happened because they didn’t court for long. Ooni was an eligible
bachelor when he came to the throne and as the tradition demanded, he
needed a wife and so he was introduced to Wuraola. As at that time,
there were speculations that Wuraola was married to a Lebanese
businessman but when the Ooni became serious that he wanted Olori
Wuraola as a wife, she left the Lebanese to become the queen of Ife.
traced to the very beginning. Some people believe that one of the
reasons the marriage failed was because Ooni made a hasty decision to
get married to the ex-Olori, while others opined that the breakup
happened because they didn’t court for long. Ooni was an eligible
bachelor when he came to the throne and as the tradition demanded, he
needed a wife and so he was introduced to Wuraola. As at that time,
there were speculations that Wuraola was married to a Lebanese
businessman but when the Ooni became serious that he wanted Olori
Wuraola as a wife, she left the Lebanese to become the queen of Ife.
According to Linda Ikeji’s blog in
February 2016, Olori Wuraola was still with the Lebanese businessman:
“She was with this guy in February 2016. In
fact, she had their photo on her WhatsApp DP and just the following
month, in March, she was married to the Ooni. We were all surprised.”
February 2016, Olori Wuraola was still with the Lebanese businessman:
“She was with this guy in February 2016. In
fact, she had their photo on her WhatsApp DP and just the following
month, in March, she was married to the Ooni. We were all surprised.”
Many reports alleged that the Ooni was
advised by many well respected Nigerians not to marry her. The former
president, Olusegun Obasanjo was also mentioned as one of the well
respected Nigerians who told the Ooni not to marry the former Olori but
he refused. There are also reports that Olori Wuraola had earlier been
married to a former governor.
advised by many well respected Nigerians not to marry her. The former
president, Olusegun Obasanjo was also mentioned as one of the well
respected Nigerians who told the Ooni not to marry the former Olori but
he refused. There are also reports that Olori Wuraola had earlier been
married to a former governor.
Another reason given, for the breakup was
that the former Olori expected so much from the Ooni and when the
expectations were not met, a friction began developing in their
relationship. The Ooni on his part was said to have started to doubt her
loyalty to him. It was claimed that there was an issue of text messages
found on her phone. Also, there was an instance when she travelled
abroad without her being accompanied and so many other sundry issues
that made the Oba say he was no longer interested.
that the former Olori expected so much from the Ooni and when the
expectations were not met, a friction began developing in their
relationship. The Ooni on his part was said to have started to doubt her
loyalty to him. It was claimed that there was an issue of text messages
found on her phone. Also, there was an instance when she travelled
abroad without her being accompanied and so many other sundry issues
that made the Oba say he was no longer interested.
However, there are also speculations that
the ex-Olori left because she was aware that Ooni wanted to take more
wives and, according to sources, this didn’t sit well with her.
the ex-Olori left because she was aware that Ooni wanted to take more
wives and, according to sources, this didn’t sit well with her.
Queen between tradition and modernity
The ex-Olori once spoke at the Emerging
Women’s Forum, in Maryland, USA, stating that she was not a fan of
gender equality, which she felt limits women.
Women’s Forum, in Maryland, USA, stating that she was not a fan of
gender equality, which she felt limits women.
“I am not a huge fan of gender equality.
We can’t be equal, we can’t be men. We have our roles to play here, a
very pivotal one. The modern pattern of feminism has succeeded in
limiting women and denying them of the heights they could reach; gender
equality is unrealistic.”
We can’t be equal, we can’t be men. We have our roles to play here, a
very pivotal one. The modern pattern of feminism has succeeded in
limiting women and denying them of the heights they could reach; gender
equality is unrealistic.”
However, sources from some quarters
claimed that the comments at the American forum were more like the Ooni
spoke through her. Many believe that the former Olori was not well
schooled in the traditional role of a queen of the Ooni. According to
the Yoruba tradition, a queen is trained to worship the ground on which
his king walks upon. She is not allowed to ask questions and must be in
total submission to the Ooni and she would dare not speak back at him. A
woman who is married to an Ooni cannot exhibit any modern traits if she
wants her marriage to succeed. There are speculations that the ex-Olori
behaved otherwise. This was seen as an abomination and it ran contrary
to the traditional role of an Ooni’s queen
claimed that the comments at the American forum were more like the Ooni
spoke through her. Many believe that the former Olori was not well
schooled in the traditional role of a queen of the Ooni. According to
the Yoruba tradition, a queen is trained to worship the ground on which
his king walks upon. She is not allowed to ask questions and must be in
total submission to the Ooni and she would dare not speak back at him. A
woman who is married to an Ooni cannot exhibit any modern traits if she
wants her marriage to succeed. There are speculations that the ex-Olori
behaved otherwise. This was seen as an abomination and it ran contrary
to the traditional role of an Ooni’s queen
Is there a new Olori about to be unveiled?
Days before the former Olori announced
her failed marriage, there were speculations that the Ooni had married a
new wife, whose name was given as Bolanle.
her failed marriage, there were speculations that the Ooni had married a
new wife, whose name was given as Bolanle.
The word out is that Bolanle had always
been in the picture. In fact, many people had assumed that she was going
to be the Olori before Wuraola snatched the queen’s crown, albeit
briefly. Some sources said
that Bolanle might be the new Olori. Even though the information about
her is still very sketchy, the same source revealed that Bolanle is also
fair-skinned like the former Olori.
been in the picture. In fact, many people had assumed that she was going
to be the Olori before Wuraola snatched the queen’s crown, albeit
briefly. Some sources said
that Bolanle might be the new Olori. Even though the information about
her is still very sketchy, the same source revealed that Bolanle is also
fair-skinned like the former Olori.
However, Bolanle won’t be the only Olori
at the Ooni’s palace; two women are also said to be coming to join the
Ooni’s group of wives. One of them is a classy lady who works with one
of the big telecommunications companies in the country and the other
whose full identity is not yet known is said to live abroad.
at the Ooni’s palace; two women are also said to be coming to join the
Ooni’s group of wives. One of them is a classy lady who works with one
of the big telecommunications companies in the country and the other
whose full identity is not yet known is said to live abroad.