The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has cleared the air over why he is yet to pay a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, stating that the delay is purely due to scheduling conflicts and not any form of disagreement or rivalry.
The monarch’s recent visit to the Oluwo of Iwo stirred a wave of speculation on social media, with many interpreting the visit as a calculated snub to the Ooni.
This narrative was further fueled by a public statement from the Oluwo, who had declared that the Alaafin holds superiority over all other traditional rulers in Yorubaland.
In response to the growing speculation, Oba Owoade addressed the issue directly in a viral video, speaking in Yoruba and offering clarity on the situation.
He explained that his visit to the Ooni was already in the works before circumstances led to its postponement.
“It is not something you hide. Before we made all preparations for this journey, one of the kings I intended to visit was the Ooni of Ife,” Oba Owoade explained.
“I informed my PA and Chief of Staff earlier to know when we would visit him, and his PAs were also contacted before we were informed he went to Kazakhstan.”
He urged the public to disregard the false narratives being pushed online, describing them as the handiwork of those looking to stoke division among Yoruba monarchs.
“People who do not know about this are the ones spreading rumours on the internet. I have no rift with the Ooni. There was even a time I was with the Soun (of Ogbomoso), and we both spoke with the Ooni on the phone,” he added.
This clarification comes just weeks after the Alaafin also addressed a viral video that showed him remaining seated while the Ooni arrived at a public event hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan. While other monarchs were seen rising to greet the Ooni, the Alaafin stayed seated a moment that quickly went viral and triggered a flurry of reactions online.
In response to that controversy, the Alaafin, through a statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, dismissed the interpretation of the video as mischievous and misleading.
He accused certain bloggers and online commentators of deliberately trying to sow discord between Yoruba traditional rulers.
“This is nothing but a distraction from more pressing issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, and youth development,” the statement read.
Reaffirming his reverence for Oba Ogunwusi and other Yoruba monarchs, Oba Owoade maintained that he remains committed to fostering unity, collaboration, and peace across Yorubaland.
“I hold the Ooni of Ife in the highest regard. Our relationship as royal fathers is rooted in mutual respect and dedication to the growth and unity of our people,” he concluded.
