JUST IN: Alaafin Owoade Reacts To Viral Greeting Video, Sends Message To Ooni

Amidst swirling social media criticisms and attempts to stoke royal controversy, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has finally broken his silence over a viral video showing him seated during a recent public greeting with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The footage, which emerged from an event hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan, drew mixed reactions from commentators who questioned the Alaafin’s posture as the Ooni arrived.

While other monarchs were seen rising to pay homage, Alaafin Owoade remained seated, a gesture some online users hastily interpreted as a sign of disrespect.

However, in a statement made available to journalists by his Personal Assistant, Mr Kolade Oladele, the monarch dismissed the uproar as a needless distraction engineered by bloggers and online rabble-rousers with no real understanding of Yoruba royal protocol.

He described the incident as a deliberate misrepresentation aimed at sowing seeds of discord among the respected stools of Yorubaland.

He said, “His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo, maintains the highest level of respect for the Ooni of Ife and all custodians of Yoruba heritage.

“He will not be drawn into a media circus or allow royal engagements to be reduced to digital gossip.”

Oba Owoade called on the Yoruba nation to shift attention to more pressing matters such as insecurity, economic hardship, and youth empowerment.

He stressed the need for synergy among traditional rulers to foster peace, unity, and development, reaffirming that collaboration—not competition—remains his guiding philosophy in matters of royal service.

Asserting that the dignity of the Yoruba monarchy must never be sacrificed for social media traffic, the Alaafin reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to working hand-in-hand with fellow monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, in championing a more united and prosperous Yorubaland.