Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi on Saturday night spoke for the first time on social media since his wife Olori Naomi Silekunola announced their divorce.
The 47-year-old monarch, in his post, enjoined Nigerians to reach out to those who have not had it easy in 2021.
“I join all and sundry in the joyous occasion of this particular season. As we all know it’s one of joy, celebrations and a deep reflection on what Olódùmarè has done through the year,” he said.
“As we do take time to celebrate with our families and loved ones, I implore you to reach out to your neighbours, especially those who haven’t had it as easy through the year.
“It is my prayer that you’ll continue to find strength to celebrate in joy, peace, and abounding love which is the bedrock of this special occasion.”
Olori Silekunola had two days before Christmas announced her separation from the monarch on the grounds that the Ooni’s public identity is at variance with “his true self”.
According to the 28-year-old evangelist, she was not leaving the monarch because of religion or women.
“I am no longer a slave to my thoughts of perfection,” she said, adding that she wanted to focus on raising her son Tadenikawo, heir to the throne.
Oba Ogunwusi has been involved with other women sometime in his life. Before being crowned king, he was married to Adebukola Bombata in 2008 but the marriage failed. As a monarch, he married Edo-born Zaynab-Otiti Obanor in 2016 but the union lasted for 17 months before their separation.
The monarch also had a daughter Princess Adeola Ogunwusi with Omolara Olatubosun as a teenager. He married Silekunola in 2018.
