New details have emerged surrounding the growing tension between the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The controversy became public on April 29, when a viral video captured Oba Owoade refusing to stand and greet the Ooni, who had come to exchange pleasantries at an event organized by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan, Oyo State. While other monarchs stood to greet Oba Adeyeye, the Alaafin remained seated, greeting him only casually.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Despite the public outcry, Kolade Oladele, the Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, dismissed the incident as a deliberate attempt to stir up discord among Yoruba traditional rulers. Oladele claimed the situation was a distraction from more pressing regional concerns, such as insecurity and economic challenges.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the conflict between the two monarchs began in March 2025, in the Oyotunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA. The Oyotunji Village, founded in 1970 as a cultural center for African Americans to reconnect with their Yoruba heritage, has been a point of contention between the two monarchs.

The Ooni had sent a delegation of Yoruba traditional rulers to perform rites at the village following the tragic murder of its leader, Adejuyigbe Adefunmi, in July 2024. However, Oba Owoade, who was in seclusion at the time, reportedly ordered the delegation to leave, claiming the village was within Oyo’s territory.

This dispute over territory was compounded by the alleged lack of recognition of the Ooni at the Alaafin’s coronation, further fueling the tensions. Although the Ooni’s camp did not immediately respond to the allegations, sources indicated that no apology or acknowledgment of the Ooni’s presence had been made by the Alaafin after the coronation.

Oladele, however, rejected these claims, stating that Oba Owoade had been focused on governing Oyo Kingdom and had not issued any instructions about Oyotunji Village. He also dismissed the assertion that the Alaafin had ignored the Ooni at the coronation, calling the allegations false and unsubstantiated.

In the midst of the growing speculation, Oladele emphasized that the Alaafin had no issue with the Ooni and that any supposed rift was purely based on misinterpretations. He concluded by stating that Oba Owoade had been focused on the development of Oyo Kingdom and would not be distracted by fabricated controversies.