The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has said that he is not in a supremacy battle with any monarch in Yorubaland or elsewhere, describing himself as the veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition.
Alafin disclosed this in a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, on Thursday.
A misunderstanding between the Alaafin, Oba Owoade and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has put the two first class monarchs at daggers drawn in the past days.
The Alaafin faulted the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Oduwa on a businessman, Dotun Sanusi, during the unveiling of an indigenous social media network—2geda—at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan, at the weekend.
However, the statement said that Alaafin is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, who has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects at all times.
Durojaiye said that Alaafin would never compromise tradition, culture and development of his people for a pot of porridge.
The statement read, “Why Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe? These immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell – The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion.
“It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider, and progressively be able to grasp any theme or situation – persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree” – sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all.
“He (Alaafin) is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects and will never compromise tradition, culture and development of his people for a pot of porridge. The history has been so kind and friendly to Alaafin Owoade publicity since he ascended the throne of his forefathers.”
