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 video that has gone viral, 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 due to the Ooni's international engagement.
"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 rumors, describing them as baseless and fueled by mischief makers seeking to create discord between the prominent Yoruba traditional rulers.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of relationships among Yoruba traditional rulers, where matters of hierarchy and protocol are deeply respected. The Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife are two of the most revered monarchs in Yorubaland, with both thrones carrying significant historical and cultural importance.
Oba Owoade, who was recently installed as the Alaafin of Oyo, has been making courtesy visits to various traditional rulers as part of establishing relationships with fellow monarchs across Yorubaland.
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