‘I’m not competing with any king’ – Alaafin fires back at supremacy rumours

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed claims of a supremacy battle with any monarch, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

In a statement released Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Alaafin said that he remained focused on preserving Yoruba culture and serving his people, not engaging in rivalry.

The statement comes over recent tensions sparked by the Ooni’s decision to confer the title “Okanlomo of Oduwa” on businessman Dotun Sanusi during the launch of an indigenous social media platform, 2geda, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan. The Alaafin had publicly questioned the move, leading to speculations of a renewed rift between the two monarchs.

According to the statement, Oba Owoade “is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition,” and is committed to the welfare and development of his people. Durojaiye added that the monarch will not “compromise tradition, culture or the progress of his people for a pot of porridge.”

Highlighting the Alaafin’s philosophy of leadership, the statement quoted Alexander Graham Bell: “The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion.” It described the Alaafin as a monarch driven by results, whose reign has brought prosperity, security, and unity to the Oyo kingdom.

“He does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe,” the statement reiterated, describing the Alaafin as “an indomitable monarch” who combines humility with royal duty.

The statement further traced the historical and spiritual significance of the Alaafin’s position, noting his initiation into the mysteries of Yoruba deities like Ifa and Sango, and his symbolic role as “Ekeji Orisha” (second-in-command to the gods).

It also referenced the Alaafin’s ancestral lineage to Oranmiyan, son of Okanbi and grandson of Oduduwa, founder of the Yoruba race. Oyo, the statement noted, rose to prominence due to its wealth, military prowess, and strategic leadership, becoming the largest empire in West Africa.

The Alaafin’s administration, the statement concluded, continues to uphold the rich cultural legacy of the Oyo Empire while adapting to modern challenges, without losing sight of tradition, legitimacy, and the people’s welfare.