The Palace of the Ooni of Ife has strongly condemned a recently circulated video by The Oyo Legacies, a media affiliate of the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace, which allegedly misrepresented the cordial interaction between the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, Elewuetu I.
The disputed video, which went viral following the West Africa Economic Summit held on Saturday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, presented a misleading narrative suggesting that the Alaafin ignored the Ooni during their encounter.
In an official statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the palace expressed deep disappointment over the video’s contents, labeling it as an unfair portrayal of the respectful and brotherly exchange that actually occurred between the two monarchs.
According to the palace’s account, the Ooni, who serves as Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers (SNCTR), and also holds the position of Permanent Chairman, Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs, arrived early at the summit.
He was seated in the VIP lounge alongside esteemed guests and business associates including: Dr. Balogun Lai Labode, Kurunmi of Ijaye & Are Ona-Kakanfo-Elect of Egbaland,
Bashorun Eniola Fayose, Bashorun Adunbarin Oodua & Awise of Orile-Igbon, and Dr. Ayo Falil Abina, the Asoju Oodua.
The palace stated that shortly after the Ooni was settled, Alaafin Owoade arrived in full royal regalia and, in an act of deference and fraternity, bypassed his designated seat and proceeded directly to the Ooni’s location. There, he offered his greetings in a warm and honorable manner.
Demonstrating humility and mutual respect, the Ooni rose to welcome the Alaafin, and the two exchanged pleasantries and shared a few jokes. The Alaafin, accompanied by his queen, then took his previously skipped seat.
Both traditional rulers were later ushered into the main conference hall in accordance with official protocol. The Ooni entered first, followed almost immediately by the Alaafin, and they took their seats, which were clearly labeled with their names, for the formal commencement of the summit presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement expressed regret that The Oyo Legacies released a selectively edited version of the event, which showed only a snippet that misrepresented the actual warm interaction between the two revered Yoruba monarchs.
“It is deeply saddening and misleading that the viral clip portrayed His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin Akeem Owoade, in a negative light, ignoring the reality of the situation,” the statement read. “Such representation not only distorts the truth but also undermines the integrity of the Alaafin, who conducted himself with honor and dignity at the event.”
The palace stressed the critical importance of responsible media conduct, particularly when it concerns the image of revered traditional rulers. “Media handlers should serve as a vital communication bridge between their principals and the public. Their role includes projecting the image of their royal principals in ways that inspire respect and admiration—not controversy or disdain,” the palace emphasized.
Furthermore, the Ooni’s Palace praised Alaafin Owoade for his respectful conduct and his demonstrated commitment to peaceful relations. “Alaafin Owoade did excellently well in his approach toward the Ooni and displayed commendable virtues of peace and humility. In fact, during their exchange, he even scheduled a forthcoming visit to the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife before the end of this week,” the palace revealed.
The statement advised that the media unit of the Alaafin’s palace urgently undergo retraining to align with professional standards and ethical communication practices. “For the good of royal image preservation and public harmony, the Alaafin’s media team must be reorganized and reoriented. Image management must never be taken lightly.”