The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed claims that he is locked in a supremacy tussle with Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
The monarch made this clarification in a statement issued on Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The development follows reports of a fresh rift between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, which reportedly began on Monday after Oba Owoade faulted the Ooni’s decision to bestow the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Oduwa on businessman Dotun Sanusi during the unveiling of an indigenous social media platform, 2geda, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan.
According to the statement, the Alaafin remains a custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, prioritizing the welfare and safety of his subjects. It stressed that his reign is guided by the collective will of the people and a commitment to upholding tradition without compromise.
“The Alaafin will never trade the culture, heritage, and development of his people for a pot of porridge,” Durojaiye said.
He added that Oba Owoade’s leadership is defined by tangible results, with prosperity, security, and the well-being of his people serving as the true measure of his influence and popularity within the empire.
The statement further quoted the monarch, invoking the words of Alexander Graham Bell: “The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion.”
“He (Alaafin) is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects and will never compromise tradition, culture and development of his people for a pot of porridge. The history has been so kind and friendly to Alaafin Owoade publicity since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as he does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.
“Alaafin combines humility with royalty to meet the modern-day demands. Kabiyesi (the king who no one questions). Iku Baba Yeye (The one who commands death/he who is parent to death). Alashe (He who wields authority). Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-command to the gods). The Alaafin was inducted into the mysteries of various gods like Ifa, Sango etc to be the direct representative of these deities on earth.”
The statement added, “At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, as Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition. Oduduwa’s Principal minister and grandson, Oranmiyan (Because Oduduwa begot Okanbi, (an only child and Okanbi begot Oranmiyan, among others, namely Ila-Orangun, Oni-Sabe, Olu-Popo, Ala-Ketu, Oba-Benin) founded the city of Oyo when prolonged drought struck Ile-Ife as a result of people’s emigration.
“Oyo simply rose to prominence through wealth gained from trade and its military skills. It was the largest West African empire, the most important and authoritative of all the early Yoruba principalities. More so, the British, as it was in their tradition, recognised lineage as meaningful supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation.
“In politics also, he is concerned about the sanctity of his position, and whatever happens on the welfare of his people. Customs and all traditional practices of today in government, religion and economic life have had distance, and possibly age-long origins which were based on valid and accepted tenets that emerged from the synthesis and aggregated experience of a particular society.
“One of such societies is the ancient city of Oyo, reputed for cultural resources that are of rich non-material and material attributes and transmitted through generations. Moreover, the precepts and concepts of Alaafin’s administration have continued to support and nurture the people’s ancient culture and sophisticated civilisation from time immemorial.
“The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line.”
