The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed claims that he is engaged in a supremacy battle with any monarch, either in Yorubaland or beyond.
The monarch made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye.
It will be recalled that a fresh controversy arose earlier in the week after Oba Owoade faulted the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, for conferring the title of Okanlomo of Odu’a on businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi during an event in Ibadan.
Clarifying his position, the statement stressed that the Alaafin remains a custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, with his focus firmly on the welfare, prosperity, and security of his subjects. It added that the monarch would never compromise tradition or development for personal gain.
“The Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe,” the statement read, describing Oba Owoade as a leader whose authority is rooted in history, culture, and the wishes of his people.
The palace also noted that the Alaafin combines humility with royalty to meet modern-day demands and carries the responsibility of representing Yoruba deities and heritage. It further highlighted the historic significance of the Oyo Empire and the Alaafin’s traditional role as a central authority in Yoruba civilisation.
