In a bid to lay the controversy of Yoruba-Igbo ties to rest, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, on Wednesday said the founding father of Yoruba, Oduduwa was never the last child to the Igbos prince as claimed by Ohaneze Indigbo.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the media aide of Oluwo, Ibrahim Alli, which was forwarded to the Tribune Online in Osogbo
Oluwo described the claim as unfounded, false and misleading to the stalwarts of history, urging Igbo community to further their research on the adventure of their own Odudunwa rather than demeaning the status of Yoruba rallying point.
According to the statement. “Yoruba nation was founded by Oduduwa. Oduduwa brought the first civilization which is the crown. Oduduwa demonstrated an unequalled leadership, shrewd, peculiar, unparalleled, unmatched, quintessential and different, served his people and became a rallying point for his services to humanity.”
It reads further, “He gave us the best tradition, so respectful and obedience. Yoruba culture is rich, very beautiful and unblemished emanated from Oduduwa. History is rich, necessary and must always be objective because it is a foundation to the future.”
Worldwide, Yoruba land is the source of every natural crown. Our crowns are spirit, divinely ordained and sacred. It was brought by Oduduwa. And we owe a duty as his progenitors to defend everything about him.”
“The fact that Oduduwa means last child in the Igbo language does not make anyone bearing similar name Igbo born. Ours was Oduduwa. Oduduwa was an immortal symbol of merit. Oduduwa was never a subject to anybody in West Africa. Our own Oduduwa was one different from your own Odudunwa meaning last born.”
“Oduduwa was the source of every natural crowns worldwide. He has been in existence even before traditional governance was extended to the Igbos. How then can you be a prince to what you preceeded?” Oluwo queried.
It is recalled that Ohaneze Ndigbo had earlier countered the claim by the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi that Igbo community originated from Ile-Ife.
According to Ohaneze Ndigbo “Odudunwa (Last born), later called Oduduwa was an Igbo Prince who occupied Ile-Ife, but the Yoruba saw him as a god because he was very powerful and had magical powers. “The Yorubas learnt and spoke Igbo language then and that is the reason for the similarity between Igbo and Yoruba language.”
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