Queen Naomi Ogunwusi has revealed details about her separation from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in an interview.
Queen Naomi, who is the mother of Crown Prince Tadenikawo, stated that she has no intention of returning to the palace, now that the monarch has six wives.
She explained that when she got married to the King, she was too innocent and naive, but has since learned that life requires strength, boldness, and courage.
While acknowledging that there were both pleasant and unpleasant moments during her time in the palace, she declined to discuss the specifics of their separation, stating that some things are meant to be learned alone.
“I am hesitant about speaking on my experiences in the palace. But in my usual way of talking, it was a bittersweet experience. Details, I will not be sharing, but it was a bittersweet experience. There were really sweet moments and there were really bitter moments.
“It is not yet time to talk about it because some things are meant to just teach you by yourself. I believe the messages are just for me at the moment, when God wants to enlarge and expand on it and make it a message for the whole world, then I will hear his words and talk about it.
“Lessons learned are personal and they have helped in shaping me. I am enjoying 30 so much; 30 makes me really strong. I am too innocent; I think I entered the palace too innocent and soft, but life is not like that, you have to be strong, bold, and courageous.”
Speaking on her relationship status, Queen Naomi affirmed that she is single and is a bride waiting to be dressed up.
“It’s a different thing to be single and it is a different thing to be ready to mingle. But what I can say for sure is that I am a bride waiting to be dressed up,” she said.
Speaking on possible regrets from her fallout with the Ooni, she stated that she doesn’t have any as she feels blessed.
“Hmm….regrets? You know, even when people talk about regret, I see it differently. If I say I don’t have regrets, people will think that I am proud. How can you live 30 years of your life and after everything you have been through, and you don’t have regrets? But God makes it hard for me to have any regret because, in the midst of the storm, I feel blessed.
“There is always something to look up to,” she added.
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By Matthew Tabe
The former wife of the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi, has said she does not plan returning to the Ife palace after the monarch took six wives.
The Ooni made headlines last year when he took six wives in quick succession.
Silekunola, who recently turned 30, dashed hopes of her returning to the palace in an interview with PUNCH on Saturday.
“As I have been speaking to you for the past one hour, do I look like someone who can survive in the midst of six mature and strong women? No! She is but a soft, strong, gentle woman and I can’t be a square peg in a round hole,” she said.
Silekunola said she is a perfectionist who is full of innocence, adding that while growing up, she ward off men by going around with her family.
She said, “I was always going in company with people, especially family members. I had older siblings and I had my mum. Every time I went out to minister or see people, you would never see me alone. It was like that and it was so difficult that people wondered, ‘Who’s going to marry her?’ Because, how are you going to approach me? You’re never going to see me alone.”
The former Ife queen noted that she would talk about her experiences in the palace at a later time.
Silekunola shocked many in December 2021 when she announced her separation from Oba Ogunwusi.
Just two days to Christmas, she wrote on Instagram that she tried to make the union work but added that the Ooni’s public identity is at variance with “his true self.”