“They Said I Was Impotent” – Ooni of Ife Opens Up on Years of Mockery

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has opened up about the years of public mockery and personal doubt he endured over childlessness, after welcoming twin princes with his wife, Queen Mariam.

In a recent testimony, the monarch revealed that after ascending the throne in 2015, his first marriage produced no children. His second and third wives also left without having children, leaving him questioning if he had “offended God.”

“After I became Ooni, the wife I married for years, there were no children. The second and third wives, too, they didn’t give birth and left. I was wondering if I had offended God,” he said. 

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He added that the situation attracted harsh public accusations. “Many people said I was impotent; they said I had used my manhood. It was said several times to my face. Eventually, God did it.”

According to him, the delay fueled speculation, with rumors spreading that he had sacrificed his potency for wealth and power a common narrative in Nigerian spiritual discourse.

The monarch admitted that the pressure weighed heavily on him. Multiple marriages were entered into with the hope of securing heirs, a practice with historical precedent in Yoruba royalty, but none initially brought the desired outcome.

The birth of twins to Queen Mariam, an Ebira-born Olori, has now marked a turning point. The Ooni celebrated the arrival with gratitude, saying, “There is nothing God cannot do.” The news was met with widespread congratulations and was seen by many as public vindication against years of criticism.