The Vice Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Olushola Alao has dismissed speculations of supremacy battle between the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade and Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi
The age-long arguments over who is the foremost king in Yorubaland between the Ooni and Alafin was revved up following the crowning of Oba Owoade on April 5, as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
But speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with the Alaafin on Sunday, Oba Alao, who is the Olugbon of Ile-Igbon dismissed the speculations on the supremacy battle between the two foremost Yoruba kings.
Rather, Alao who was at the palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade to pay a royal visit to him encouraged all traditional rulers in Yoruba land to be united for the development of Yoruba race.
The Olugbon said he had heard a lot of things after the Alaafin’s coronation, “but I will tell you one thing, Alaafin will remain Alaafin of Oyo while Ooni will remain Ooni of Ife. So, there is no dispute,” he said.
According to Oba Alao, his visit to the Oyo palace was to pay homage to Alaafin whom he described as “a leader, a man of wisdom, who chooses his words carefully and is equipped academically.
“Due to our past relationship, traditionally, culturally and historically; Olugbo, Aresa and Olukoyi see Alaafin as our affiliation and our tide, we have a very long bond from the days of Oyo empire till date.
“I and Oba Owoade discussed issues that are progressive to Oyo state government, Oyo state traditional council, and to entire Yoruba traditional council,” he said.
Oba Ajao maintained that the objectives of the traditional rulers were to work towards promotion and preservation of Yoruba cultural values,
He added that Oyo State Traditional Council has been working together with the governor, to achieve this mission, noting that there’s no way traditional rulers could do things on their own.
“We must have a synergy with the government, and we are doing that. These are parts of the things we share in common.
“And I know for sure that we have a new leader, a new era to move Oyo State Council of Obas forward, to move Oyo state as a whole forward, in synergy with the state government,” Olugbon stated.
NAN
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