Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, has risen in stout defence of his wife, Olori Omolara Oluwatoyin Haastrup, declaring categorically that she is a full-blooded Yoruba.
The rebuttal rubbishes a report by an online publication that classified her as an “Igbo Lady”.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Palace and the Paramount Ruler by Lady Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, a veteran journalist and lawyer, the Palace frowned at the misconceived description of Olori Omolara Haastrup, and corrected the warped narratives concerning the Olori’s Yoruba heritage and ancestry.
“Contrary to the misleading narrative currently circulating on social media, Olori Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Haastrup (née Akinsanya), the wife of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, is UNEQUIVOCALLY AND PROUDLY OF YORUBA HERITAGE,” says the Palace in the statement.
“She hails from the ancient town of Ota in Ogun State, with ancestral roots deeply embedded in the Awori sub-ethnic group of the Yoruba people,” the statement continues. “Her lineage, through both paternal and maternal lines, as well as her grandparents, is entirely Yoruba. It is therefore inaccurate, misleading, and deeply disrespectful to misrepresent her identity as Igbo. This fabrication not only undermines her personal and cultural dignity, but also distorts the rich history and harmony among the diverse ethnic communities of Nigeria.”
The Palace then traces the genealogy of Olori Omolara to prove her ancestry beyond all reasonable doubts:
“Olori Omolara was born to the Akinsanya Family of Idole Compound, Ota Aworiland. People in the community, including family and friends, because of her fair complexion, call her “Oyinbo Idole” to this day. Her late father, Alhaji Nureni Adisa Akinsanya, was a direct descendant of the distinguished Idowu Ojumo Oke-Olota family of Ota Aworiland, a lineage deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and culture.
“Her late mother, Alhaja Faidat Funke Fowoshere (née Fayemi), was a noble daughter of Ilogbo, Ota. A woman of remarkable spiritual stature who held the highly respected title of Iya Sunna of the Ilogbo Asowo Central Mosque, she descended from the revered Abibat Abegbe Fayemi of the Idu Aro compound. Olori’s maternal grandfather, Muftau Fayemi, also hailed from this honourable Yoruba lineage, further grounding her heritage in longstanding cultural and religious leadership. While she was named Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Akinsanya, her immediate younger sibling twins, were named Lutifat Taiwo Akinsanya Adigun and Kudiratu Kehinde Akinsanya Otesile.”
Below is the full text of the clarification by the Palace:
CLARIFICATION: THE AUTHENTIC LINEAGE OF OLORI OMOLARA OLUWATOYIN SHERIFAT HAASTRUUP (NEE AKINSANYA)
The attention of the Palace of Owa Obokun of Ijesaland has been drawn to a recent misconceived description of Olori Omolara Haastrup, the esteemed wife of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, and it has, therefore, become necessary to correct the unfounded narratives concerning the heritage of the Olori.
Contrary to the misleading narrative currently circulating on social media, Olori Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Haastrup (née Akinsanya), the wife of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, is UNEQUIVOCALLY AND PROUDLY OF YORUBA HERITAGE.
She hails from the ancient town of Ota in Ogun State, with ancestral roots deeply embedded in the Awori sub-ethnic group of the Yoruba people. Her lineage, through both paternal and maternal lines, as well as her grandparents, is entirely Yoruba. It is therefore inaccurate, misleading, and deeply disrespectful to misrepresent her identity as Igbo. This fabrication not only undermines her personal and cultural dignity, but also distorts the rich history and harmony among the diverse ethnic communities of Nigeria.
Olori Omolara was born to the Akinsanya Family of Idole Compound, Ota Aworiland. People in the community, including family and friends, because of her fair complexion, call her “Oyinbo Idole” to this day. Her late father, Alhaji Nureni Adisa Akinsanya, was a direct descendant of the distinguished Idowu Ojumo Oke-Olota family of Ota Aworiland, a lineage deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and culture.
Her late mother, Alhaja Faidat Funke Fowoshere (née Fayemi), was a noble daughter of Ilogbo, Ota. A woman of remarkable spiritual stature who held the highly respected title of Iya Sunna of the Ilogbo Asowo Central Mosque, she descended from the revered Abibat Abegbe Fayemi of the Idu Aro compound. Olori’s maternal grandfather, Muftau Fayemi, also hailed from this honourable Yoruba lineage, further grounding her heritage in longstanding cultural and religious leadership. While she was named Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Akinsanya, her immediate younger sibling twins, were named Lutifat Taiwo Akinsanya Adigun and Kudiratu Kehinde Akinsanya Otesile.
It is, therefore, both historically inaccurate and culturally inappropriate to attribute the identity of Olori Omolara or that of her children to any lineage outside of her authentic Yoruba roots. The descendants of His Royal Majesty Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup and Olori Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Haastrup are the proud inheritors of rich Yoruba traditions from both Ijesaland and Aworiland, with deep ties to language, culture, and values.
Had her heritage been of another background, be it Igbo or otherwise, she would have acknowledged it with equal pride. But the truth remains that she is unequivocally Yoruba.
The coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, was witnessed by revered dignitaries from her hometown of Ota, including, His Royal Majesty, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota,
Aworiland and Iyalaje of Ota Aworiland, Alhaja Abimbola Dada, whose presence testified to her authentic Yoruba and Awori heritage.
The deliberate misinformation and unfounded claims that seek to sow division, must be disregarded and firmly corrected. This clarification stands as the authentic account of Olori Omolara Oluwatoyin Sherifat Haastrup who continues to serve with grace and unwavering pride in her noble Yoruba identity and lineage, a lineage steeped in honour, faith, and cultural legacy.
This statement is made in the spirit of preserving historical truth as well as honouring the memory of our Olórí Omolara’s ancestral heritage.
Lady Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, BL, LLM
For His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III,
Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.