Ooni Shocks Guests At Alaafin's 45th Coronation Anniversary

Guests at the 45th coronation anniversary ceremony of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, on Sunday were surprised to see the newly crowned Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in their midst.

This was because the last Ooni and the present Alaafin were never close allies. While the last Ooni was alive, he was in a supremacy battle with Oba Adeyemi. Even the Alaafin confirmed on Sunday that the last time an Ooni visited Oyo town was in March 1937.

The Ooni paid an unscheduled visit to the function and he was welcomed with gladness by the Alaafin, who was visibly happy and sat beside his uninvited guest.

At the venue of the thanksgiving service on Sunday for the Alaafin, the Methodist Church, Apaara, Oba Adeyemi III hailed the Ooni and pointed out that the unity of Yorubaland is key to development and peace.

This was corroborated by the Ooni, who vowed to do everything within his power to unite all Yoruba sons and daughters across the globe.

“I am here today though not invited but as the Arole Oduduwa, the onus is on me to felicitate with all sons and daughters wherever they are and to show my solidarity for any of them.

“I am ready to damn any consequences or insinuations from anywhere; my mission here is to preach peace among nations of Yoruba both home and abroad and I am ready to work with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi to project the unity and love which we believe is existing in days of our forefathers,” the Ooni said at the ceremony.

In Alaafin’s speech, he said, “This special visit was done last in March 1937, that was the first time the kings in Yorubaland met in Oyo town and today history was made with the visit of Arole Oodua Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and I feel delighted to host you and to reassure you that I will be ready to work with you.

“I have a tight relationship with Ooni Adesoji Aderemi and I did not want to relent my bound with any Ooni of Ife that assumed the post but everybody has his own little differences”.

After the event, both monarchs had a secret meeting which lasted about 20 minutes and the Ooni was accompanied by the Alaafin to the major express road which links Ibadan and Oyo town.

On the entourage of the Ooni were Orangun of Ila, Ajero of Ijero. Timi Of Ede, Akinrun of Ikinrun, Olu of Yewa, Alara of Aramoko, Oore of Otun, Alayemore of Efon Alaye among many other Yoruba obas.