The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, sent Christmas gifts to his estranged wife, Prophetess Naomi, hours before a divorce notice surfaced on social media, one of the monarch’s aides told The PUNCH.
Though the Prophetess was said to have left the palace before the divorce notice on social media, it was learnt that Ooni packaged Christmas gifts and sent them to her.
“We were asked to package the Christmas gifts on Wednesday and it was sent in the afternoon to her. We sent the gifts before day two of the music programme in Lagos. Only for us to wake up and find the statement on divorce on social media. Something must definitely be wrong somewhere,” he said.
Before the incident, Ooni of Ife was participating in a three-day music programme tagged, ‘Memorable Moments With Music’ at the Muson Centre, Lagos State.
On his part, Ooni’s media aide, Moses Olafare, said his boss was still in love with the Prophetess before the divorce notice on social media.
“On Wednesday, Kabiyesi (Ooni) was still packaging special gifts for her. If you want to separate with someone, you cannot be packaging gifts for her.
“I was aware that Kabiyesi was putting a special Christmas gift together for her. If he is not in love with her, he cannot be doing that. In fact, the Christmas gift has been delivered to her already.”
Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, in a statement posted on her verified Instagram handle @queen_silekunolanaomi_ogunwusi on Thursday morning, announced an end to her three-year-old marriage with Ooni.
She said, “I bless the Lord almighty for His faithfulness in the last three years of my marriage. In life’s journey, it isn’t how far.
“Still, how well, indeed though satan should buffet if trials should come, I have this blessed assurance controlling all situations and saying to me it is well with my soul.
“Certainly, it is well. I made my journey into the ancient throne of Ife with faith in my heart and love for the keeper of it.
“Few impressions I would love to correct. If anyone knows otherwise, they are free to come up with facts.
“Let it be known that this decision to move on did not come because his majesty is married to another queen.
“As many would love to assume, throughout our life as a couple, I was the only married wife to him. There were side attractions, but it was never an issue.
“I never approached him with any revelation of any sort, as many believed he contacted me first and made his proposal known several months later.
“The marriage was not an arranged one, as many have misconstrued. I never knew the prophetess said to have introduced me to him.
“Instead, he introduced her to me after I agreed to marry him. I was only being polite out of respect for him.
“I have never been pregnant all my life before Tadenikawo; my son is my first ever pregnancy with medical reports to back it up.
“The girl who is said to be my daughter is my niece.
“I did my best to endure and make it work; many times, I smiled through the struggle, but I have finally realised I had just one assignment, my son, and when God is done, He is done.
“He chose Saul to be king, and when He was done, He told the prophet Samuel I have moved on.
“Religion was never an issue between us; please refer to my interview on News Central TV.
“Instead, His Majesty has a picture he would love the world to see and perceive him as and another one which is his true self.
“Today I announce the beginning of a new dawn and the close of a chapter.”
