The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has explained why the monarch did not visit the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during his recent trip to Osun State.

According to the palace, Oba Owoade had intended to visit the Ooni as the first point of call during the visit but was informed that Oba Adeyeye was out of the country.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Oba Owoade’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, said the Alaafin’s protocol officer had contacted the Ooni’s palace to inform them of the visit but was told that Oba Ogunwusi was unavailable.

“We didn’t ignore the Ooni during the visit. We reached out to the palace but were told that Ooni wasn’t around. Ooni’s palace was the first point of call in our initial itinerary, but we had to visit the Oluwo first because of the development,” he stated.

Oba Owoade visited the Oluwo on Tuesday, a development that generated controversy over a purported rift between him and the Ooni.

The controversy was further fuelled by Oluwo, who declared that Alaafin was superior to all other traditional rulers and titles in Yorubaland.

It was gathered that the Oluwo has been having a running battle with the Ooni.

His declaration also came amid ongoing claims of superiority by supporters of both Ooni and Alaafin.

However, Oladele dismissed insinuations of a cold war between Alaafin and the Ooni, stating that there was no rift between the two traditional rulers.

He disclosed that Oba Owoade would soon pay an appreciation visit to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and Ooni.

“I always tell people that there is no rift between Alaafin and the Ooni. Baba (Alaafin) doesn’t have time to begrudge anybody. What is paramount to him is the unity and development of the Yoruba race, and he is committed to achieving that.

“We didn’t visit Ooni the other time because Alaafin’s protocol officer, who reached out to Ooni’s palace, was told that Baba wasn’t around. I want to tell you that we will pay an appreciation visit to Ooni and Governor Ademola Adeleke very soon. Alaafin isn’t fighting anybody,” Oladele said.

Similarly, the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, told our correspondent on Thursday that he was aware of Alaafin’s plan to visit Ooni before proceeding to the Oluwo.

“I was privy to the arrangement. Alaafin truly wanted to visit Ooni, but Baba was not at home. Alaafin didn’t ignore Ooni at all. The two traditional rulers will work together for the progress and unity of the Yoruba,” he stated.

But the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s palace, Moses Olafare, said there was no official notification from the Alaafin’s palace about the planned visit to Oba Ogunwusi.

“We were not notified that Alaafin was coming to visit Ooni. Nobody contacted us either through letter or phone call before Baba travelled out of the country.

“What we got was from one of our security operatives, who informed us that somebody called him from the Alaafin’s palace to ask if Baba was around, and he told the person that we were not around. Everybody knew we were not around. There was no notification or any form of communication suggesting that Alaafin was coming to visit Ooni before we left the country,” he said. (Saturday PUNCH)