Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday paid a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, at his palace in Oyo Town, amid the growing dispute between the monarch and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
The visit was Obasanjo’s first to Oba Owoade since his installation in April 2025 as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. He was accompanied by his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, alongside a few dignitaries.
The development comes at a time when Oba Owoade has openly challenged the authority of the Ooni of Ife following the latter’s installation of Ibadan-born businessman, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland. The Alaafin argued that the Ooni does not have the power to confer a chieftaincy title that covers the entire Yorubaland.
Although details of Obasanjo’s discussions with the Alaafin were not made public, palace sources hinted that the visit may not be unconnected with efforts to douse tensions between the two foremost Yoruba monarchs.
Attempts by journalists to reach the Alaafin’s media aide, Mr. Bode Durojaye, for comments proved unsuccessful as his mobile line did not connect.
