A brewing rift between the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has come to public attention following an incident at a program in Ibadan on April 29. Oba Owoade refused to stand and greet the Ooni when the latter approached him to exchange pleasantries. While other monarchs stood to show respect, Oba Owoade remained seated, greeting the Ooni casually.
The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking mixed reactions from the public. However, the Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, dismissed the controversy, calling it an intentional attempt to create division among Yoruba traditional rulers. He urged people to focus on pressing regional issues such as insecurity and economic challenges.
However, sources close to the matter have revealed that the tension between the two monarchs goes back to March 2025 during an incident in the Oyotunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The Oyotunji Village, founded in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I, has been a cultural and spiritual haven for African Americans seeking to reconnect with their Yoruba heritage.
Adefunmi’s successor, Adejuyigbe, was tragically stabbed to death by his sister, Akiba Meredith, during a domestic dispute in July 2024. Following this, the Ooni sent a delegation of traditional rulers to the village to perform the necessary traditional rites. The delegation included Oba Adesoji Oladepo, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, and other traditional leaders.
According to sources, while the delegation was in Oyotunji Village, Oba Owoade, who was in seclusion at the time, called one of the members of the team to demand they leave, claiming the village was part of Oyo territory. The call was described as disrespectful by those present, as the Ooni had sent the delegation on a mission to perform rites following Adejuyigbe’s death.
One source explained, “Oba Owoade should have done his research on who traditionally installs the Oyotunji leader before calling us. It was uncalled for. During Oba Owoade’s coronation, he didn’t recognize the Ooni, and that caused a stir among the monarchs of Osun who accompanied the Ooni.”
Further exacerbating the situation, the source claimed that the first time the two monarchs met after the coronation was at the event in Ibadan, and the Alaafin’s refusal to stand and greet the Ooni fueled the perception of a rift.
Oladele, however, rejected these claims, stating that the Alaafin had not issued any instructions regarding Oyotunji Village. According to Oladele, Oba Owoade was focused on preparing for governance during his seclusion and had no time for such issues. He added that the village’s founding and leadership history were well known, and the Alaafin had no direct involvement in it.
Oladele further dismissed accusations that the Alaafin did not recognize the Ooni during the coronation, emphasizing that the Ooni had been invited and was treated with respect at the event. He described the allegations as baseless and insisted that the people of Oyotunji had reached out to the Alaafin, not the other way around.
Despite the public fallout, Oladele reiterated that there was no rift between the two monarchs, and any claims suggesting otherwise were false. He stated, “Alaafin has no issue with the Ooni, and there is no rift between them.”
As the controversy continues to make waves, observers are calling for both monarchs to address the situation publicly and clear the air. However, for now, it seems the dispute remains a matter of private disagreement between the two revered traditional rulers of Yorubaland.
