Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed speculations that he disrespected the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s successor, during his recent visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
The controversy began after a short video clip of Igboho’s remarks at the Ooni’s palace surfaced on social media over the weekend.
In the video, he was heard saying that “the Alaafin wears and parades with the crown of my forefathers, not his — he cannot question my lineage.”
The statement quickly went viral, prompting a wave of criticism, with many interpreting it as a direct insult to the Alaafin and a challenge to the authority of the Oyo throne.
The clip sparked heated debate across Yorubaland and beyond, with traditionalists, cultural enthusiasts, and political observers expressing concern over what they perceived as a derogatory comment directed at a respected monarch.
Critics accused Igboho of overstepping cultural boundaries and undermining the sanctity of Yoruba traditional institutions.
Some critics even argued that such words could never have been directed at the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who until his passing was regarded as one of the most powerful monarchs in Africa.
In response, Igboho swiftly addressed the matter in another video broadcast late on Saturday night. He insisted that his comments were misunderstood and taken out of cultural context.
He explained that he had no intention of speaking disrespectfully of the Alaafin, whom he described as one of the most revered traditional rulers in Yorubaland and a father figure to him personally.
“My father, the Olugbon, called me and said the Alaafin (Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade) felt I insulted him when I visited the Ooni.
“I want to make it clear that I never abused the Alaafin.
“The Alaafin is not a small monarch in Yorubaland. I am from Oyo, and the Alaafin is my father,” he clarified.
Shedding more light on what transpired, Igboho explained that during his courtesy call to the Ooni of Ife, palace drummers and praise-singers began to chant his ancestral oríkì (lineage praises).
In line with Yoruba cultural tradition, he responded by adding his family’s chant, a common form of self-affirmation and ancestral recognition.
“When I visited the Ooni, the drummers and singers praised me with my family heritage. I only added to it.
“I said Ooni is a father of peace. That was what I was emphasising. I didn’t insult the Alaafin,” he explained.
He added that this practice was not peculiar to his visit to Ife, noting that he had done the same at the Alaafin’s palace in the past.
“I can’t abuse the Alaafin. I am his son. Even when I visited him, I greeted myself with the same oríkì. That is how we do in our family compound,” Igboho said.
Recognising the sensitivity of the matter, the activist tendered an unreserved apology to the Alaafin and the Yoruba people for any unintended slight caused by his words.
“If my words were misunderstood, I ask for forgiveness. I never meant to insult the Alaafin,” he appealed.
Reiterating his respect for Yoruba kingship, Igboho stressed that he would never engage in actions or utterances that could undermine traditional institutions.
According to him, Yoruba monarchs remain the custodians of culture and heritage, and preserving unity among them is crucial for the progress of the Yoruba people.
“I respect all Yoruba monarchs. They are our fathers. I cannot and will not insult any of them. Unity among our royal fathers is very important to me and to the cause I am fighting for,” he said.
Sunday Igboho rose to national prominence in 2021 following his outspoken defense of Yoruba communities against banditry and his advocacy for the Yoruba Nation agitation.
His activities earned him widespread support but also brought him into conflict with the Nigerian state, leading to a dramatic raid on his Ibadan residence by security operatives. He later went into exile in Benin Republic before regaining his freedom in 2023.
His recent visit to the Ooni of Ife, a first in several years, was described by observers as symbolic, marking a reconciliation between him and traditional rulers who had previously distanced themselves from his agitation.
Many had hoped the visit would foster unity and open dialogue. However, the controversy surrounding his statement briefly overshadowed the historic moment.
Despite the misunderstanding, Igboho maintained that his commitment to the Yoruba cause remains unwavering, and his respect for elders and monarchs remains intact.
He emphasised that peace, respect for tradition, and solidarity with the royal fathers of Yorubaland will continue to guide his actions.