Salient facts have poured out on the brewing but not public rift between the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
A slight development fired by the seeming rift came to public attention on Tuesday, April 29, when Oba Owoade refused to stand up to greet the Ooni, who had approached to exchange pleasantries with him and other monarchs at a programme organised by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a video that went viral on social media, the Alaafin remained seated and greeted the Ooni casually, while other traditional rulers stood up to shake hands with Oba Adeyeye. The video has been generating mixed reactions from the public.
However, while Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, is generally believed to have dismissed the reactions as a deliberate attempt to sow discord among Yoruba traditional rulers, a critical look at the statement has revealed the animosity playing out between the two respected monarchs.
A Citizen Rapporteur’s report tracked a critical point that exposes Alaafin’s action as deliberate, probably targeted at expressing anger towards the Ooni of Ife who he is stamped in a power tussle with. Somewhere hidden in the lengthy statement is the controversial pronouncement: “I will not be drawn into performative gestures or public spectacles that reduce the gravitas of Yoruba monarchy.”
However, Sunday PUNCH gathered from credible people familiar with the matter that the rift between Alaafin and Ooni started in March 2025 at the Oyotunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States.
Oyotunji African Village is a unique intentional community established in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I. It was founded as a cultural and spiritual haven for African Americans seeking to reconnect with traditional Yoruba heritage.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that Adefunmi was crowned by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
After Adefunmi’s passing in 2005, his son, Adejuyigbe, succeeded him and was crowned by the same Oba Sijuwade as the leader of the community.
However, Adejuyigbe was stabbed to death in July 2024 by a 53-year-old woman identified as his sister, Akiba Meredith, during a domestic dispute.
Sources told our correspondent that the current Ooni had sent a team of monarchs to the Oyotunji Village to perform traditional rites following Adejuyigbe’s murder.
The team included the Salu Edunabon, Oba Adesoji Oladepo, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, the Araba Agbaye, and the priest in charge of the Oranmiyan staff in Ife, Owa Iredumi.
According to the sources, Oba Owoade, who was in seclusion at the time, called one of the traditional rulers and demanded that they vacate the village, claiming it was Oyo territory.
One of the team members said: “We were at Oyotunji Village on the directive and sponsorship of the Ooni to perform traditional rites after the killing of the traditional leader of the village.
“We spoke with the family and performed every necessary rite. We left Nigeria in March and returned in early April.
“I was in my room when Oba Owoade, who was still in seclusion then, called one of us and told him we should leave the place because the village belongs to him, claiming it is part of Oyo territory.
“I regarded that call as disrespectful. Oba Owoade should have done his research on who usually installs the Oyotunji leader in the US before calling us.”
“We thought that was all. During Oba Owoade’s coronation, he didn’t recognise the Ooni. Baba went with 38 traditional rulers from Osun.
“I challenge anyone to produce the clip where the Alaafin recognised the Ooni at the event.”
The source, however, said Ooni didn’t read any meaning into that.
“Till I am speaking with you, the Alaafin has neither called nor visited the Ooni to say ‘thank you’ after the coronation.
“Painfully, the first time they met after that was during Tuesday’s programme in Ibadan, and the Alaafin behaved in such a manner.
“Ooni is not in a supremacy battle with anyone because his position in Yorubaland is not disputable.”
Oladele, however, dismissed the monarch’s claims as baseless and untrue.
“They are creating things that don’t exist. We know that truth does not need defence, and it will always prevail,” he said.
Oladele said the Alaafin did not issue any directive to anybody regarding Oyotunji village, stating that Oba Owoade had been busy with the governance of Oyo Kingdom right from his seclusion.
He said: “Kabiyesi was at Ipebi, preparing himself for the governance of the most sophisticated town. So, he didn’t have time for such a thing.
“Even if there was any issue of that nature, Alaafin has always advised people to be patient and investigate matters thoroughly before acting.
“Without putting words in Alaafin’s mouth, the Oyotunji Village has its own history, beginning with the name itself.
“The founders of the community had their reasons for naming the place Oyotunji. However, what I know is that Alaafin has not given any direct verdict to anybody. He has been focused on governance and is committed to the development of Oyo Kingdom.”
On the claim that the Alaafin did not recognise the Ooni during the coronation and appreciate his presence, Oladele said: “People are just conjuring issues anyhow. We don’t even need to dissipate our energy on this issue because it is a fallacy.
“Why would the Alaafin raise a powerful delegation to invite the Ooni to the coronation and then not recognise him? How can anybody make such a claim?
“Let us have a direct complaint from the Ooni’s palace, maybe we can take the matter seriously then.
