The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has denied reports circulating on social media alleging that he conferred a chieftaincy title on popular Nollywood actor and comedian James Olanrewaju, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.
This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Mr Moses Olafare.
Olafare quoted the Ooni as clarifying that although he warmly received the actor and his wife at his palace on Wednesday to celebrate the birth of his son, no chieftaincy title was conferred on the couple.
Oba Ogunwusi said that he also presented the actor with a brand-new car and cash gifts as a demonstration of his fatherly love and royal generosity, but no chieftaincy title was conferred on him.
“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.
