The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has firmly denied reports suggesting a rift between him and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, following his recent visit to the Oluwo of Iwo.
The royal visit sparked widespread speculation on social media, with many interpreting it as a deliberate snub to the Ooni of Ife. These rumors gained momentum after the Oluwo publicly declared that the Alaafin holds superiority over all traditional rulers in Yorubaland.
Alaafin Addresses Controversy
In a viral video circulating online, Oba Owoade addressed the controversy directly, emphasizing that there is no conflict between him and the Ooni. He explained that a visit to the Ooni was actually part of his original itinerary but had to be rescheduled.
"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," the Alaafin stated.
"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 further explained.
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.
The monarch urged the public to disregard the insinuations, describing them as baseless and fuelled by mischief makers intent on creating discord between the prominent Yoruba traditional rulers.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy comes amid ongoing discussions about hierarchical positions among Yoruba traditional rulers. The statement by the Oluwo of Iwo regarding the Alaafin's superiority touched on sensitive aspects of traditional authority in Yorubaland, a topic that occasionally generates debate among cultural historians and traditional institutions.
Oba Owoade, who was recently installed as the Alaafin of Oyo following approval from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has been working to establish relationships with other traditional rulers in the region.
Stay connected with the latest updates on this story and more by following BenriNews on our social media platforms.
