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Ooni-Alaafin Feud: Ooni’s Palace Reacts To Viral Video

Published

3 weeks ago

June 22, 2025

The palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has described the viral video depicting an encounter between the Ooni and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, at a meeting in Abuja as incomplete and edited to misrepresent the peaceful interaction between the two monarchs.

The two traditional rulers were guest at the West Africa Economic Summit held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday.

In a statement issued by the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare on Sunday, he said the two traditional rulers have a peaceful interaction when the Alaafin proceeded to greet the Ooni who was at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre before the Alaafin.

While blaming the Oyo Legacies, a media wing of the palace for posting an edited video on the social media to create the misrepresentation, he acknowledged that the true situation at the event showed that Alaafin upon arrival went straight to greet the Ooni before returning to his seat the VIP centre before proceeding to the main stage.

“The Ooni of Ife had already been ushered in and was majestically seated at the VIP waiting room of the conference centre alongside some of his business associates and friends

‘His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo few minutes later arrived his own royal candour and walked straight (even ignoring his allocated seat) to the Ooni’s seat for royal greetings while the Arole Oduduwa(in his usual 2nd-To-None humble character) reciprocated the honour accorded him by the Alaafin as he rose to welcome his brother traditional ruler while both exchange pleasantries and few jokes before Alaafin eventually went to take his seat, which he had earlier bypassed alongside his amiable queen.

“When they were both called upon to move into the main hall of the conference centre, it was the Ooni that first left the VIP waiting room, and almost same time followed by the Alaafin to take their respective seats officially tagged in their names inside the hall where the event was ready to be kicked off by the Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, he said.

While blaming the Alaafin media handlers for the misrepresentation on social media, Olafare stressed the need for the media wing to represent the palace and its activities properly to avoid leading the public into wrong assumption.

“Having set the record straight above, it is hereby found so disheartening the manner Oyo Legacies, who blatantly refused to report their principal in his true and positive conduct of virtuous greatly displayed in his exchange of pleasantries with the Ooni and other dignitaries in Abuja yesterday. Either you like it or not, members of the public must react to such information disseminations.

“The roles of media handlers to their principals primarily involve acting as a communication bridge between the principal and the public and other stakeholders, they must work to support their principal by managing his image in a way to get him loved and respected in the society not to get him hated and disrespected as the said video has caused.

“Kabiyesi Alaafin Owoade did excellently well in his approach to Kabiyesi Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Ogunwusi in Abuja yesterday (Saturday) and it should have been so adequately reported by The Oyo Legacies showcasing him as a monarch of peace and harmony that he is and not the otherwise, which the video has portrayed him.

“Alaafin Owoade, going by his conduct yesterday, is a man of peace and someone who values relationships. He even seized the opportunity yesterday to book an appointment to visit the Ooni at Ile-Ife before this week runs out”, the statement added.

News

JUST IN: Tension As Air Peace Flight Veers Off Runway In Port Harcourt

Published

8 minutes ago

July 13, 2025

Editor

An Air Peace flight P47190 veered off the runway on Sunday morning while landing at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport in Port Harcourt.

Though no clue has yet been disclosed as to the cause of the incident, available information claimed there were no casualties.

The flight which originated at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos ran into the incident on touchdown at the destination.

Air Peace management has confirmed in a release signed by its spokesman, Osifo-whiskey Efe, that its “Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, (Sunday), had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported,” it says.

The airline assured the flying public of its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all operations.

News

Anglican Church Bans Partisan Speeches By Politicians During Services

Published

12 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

File photo for illustration

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has released guidelines on how politicians and government officials should be received during church services and programmes, as part of efforts to maintain the sanctity and neutrality of Christian worship.

The directive was issued by the Primate of the Church, Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, during the Episcopal Consultation held in the Diocese of Nike, Enugu.

According to the Church, via a memo on Friday by the Director of Communication, Korede Akintunde, the guidelines became necessary following growing concerns about the increasing use of church gatherings as platforms for political statements, which risk undermining the core purpose of worship.

“The church remains open to all persons, including politicians and government officials.

“However, the church must not engage in or promote partisanship,” the memo stated.

The church emphasised that any guest expected to address the congregation must first have a prior discussion with church leadership to offer appropriate guidance.

“Guests are to be informed clearly that the church is not a platform for advancing partisan views or political propaganda.

“Church leaders and officiants must refrain from making statements or behaving in ways that could be construed as politically aligned or sectional.

“⁠No church official should eulogise or exalt any guest in a manner that might bring the church into disrepute.

“⁠Where possible, guests should not be permitted to use the church’s lectern when speaking, as it has been consecrated for the reading of God’s Word,” the statement read.

While affirming its responsibility to engage with government authorities on issues affecting the people and the nation, the church reiterated its commitment to being a moral compass for society.

“The church remains committed, under God, to being the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

“We will continue to uphold the nation in prayer and offer godly counsel to those in positions of authority,” Ndukuba stated.

News

Lagos LG Poll: Why We Did Not Shut Border – Immigration

Published

13 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Seme Border Command, Absullahi Adamu, says the service did not receive any directive to close the border over the Lagos State Local government election.

Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria in Seme on Saturday, that the border is an international one, under exclusive list.

“Closing of an international border should come from higher authority.

“There is no information regarding restriction of movement till 3pm, so our status quo remains,” he said.

According to him, the border cannot be closed against people coming into the country but the service can only advise them to wait till 3p.m after stamping them in before leaving the border.

Adamu said that foreigners coming into the country through the border would be urged to hang somewhere, after stamping their passports till 3.p.m before leaving the border.

He, however, said the command would act accordingly if they received order to restrict movement.

(NAN)