The Palace of the Ooni of Ife has refuted claims suggesting tension between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi describing such narratives as misleading and unfair to both monarchs.
This follows a viral video released by The Oyo Legacies, the media team affiliated with the Alaafin’s Palace, shortly after Saturday’s West Africa Economic Summit held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The video, which was heavily edited, gave the impression that the Alaafin deliberately snubbed the Ooni during the royal engagements at the event a narrative the Ooni’s Palace strongly contests.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the palace described the video as a misrepresentation of what truly transpired.
According to Olafare, the Alaafin’s conduct at the event was not only respectful but also demonstrated the virtues expected of a traditional ruler of his stature.
“The Ooni had arrived earlier and was seated in the VIP waiting lounge, accompanied by close associates and other dignitaries. When the Alaafin came in, he bypassed his allocated seat and walked directly to greet the Ooni, who stood up in return. Both monarchs exchanged warm pleasantries and even shared a few jokes before proceeding to the main event hall,” Olafare stated.
He explained that the misleading video failed to capture these key moments, instead focusing on an isolated angle that presented Oba Owoade in a negative light.
“What was posted by the Oyo Legacies media outfit is not just misleading it’s damaging to the image of a monarch who carried himself with dignity and humility,” Olafare added.
He emphasized that the media team attached to any traditional ruler holds the responsibility of protecting and projecting their principal’s image with accuracy and integrity.
“Alaafin’s Media Team must be rejigged. They need urgent retraining on protocol, ethics, and professional conduct,” he said.
He also revealed that the Alaafin used the opportunity in Abuja to schedule a courtesy visit to the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife before the end of the week, reaffirming the cordial relationship that exists between both monarchs.
Saturday’s summit brought together top traditional rulers, business moguls, and policymakers across West Africa.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who declared the summit open, described it as a turning point for regional economic cooperation.
Despite the media controversy, both monarchs were seen engaging with fellow dignitaries and conducting themselves in ways that underscored mutual respect and unity qualities considered vital to the cultural leadership of the Yoruba people.
The Ooni’s Palace urged the public to disregard the viral video and encouraged traditional institutions to uphold truth and honour in all official representations.
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