Alaafin has regards for Olubadan, other traditional rulers .....Atobaase

By Seyifunmi Odunuga

The Atobaase of Yorubaland, Chief Babajide Agunbiade has submitted that Alaafin of Oyo has regard for all the traditional rulers in the Yorubaland including Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

Agunbiade, in a statement made available to the newsmen faulted the claim that Oba Owoade disrespected Olubadan at a public gathering in Ibadan.

He referred the people fanning the Ember of crisis between the two monarchs to the aged tradition of the Oyo kingdom.

He added that rather than seeing what transpired as affront, Alaafin, as a custodian of tradition only tried to protect Oyo kingdom traditional stool.

The statement read, 

At no time has the Alaafin shown disrespect to the Olubadan of Ibadanland or to any other traditional ruler. Any assumption of discourtesy ignores the deeply rooted oaths and rituals of the Alaafin's stool, traditions that are over a thousand years old and remain binding on every occupant of the throne

It is important to state clearly that the Alaafin is currently bound by sacred rites, including the seven-day traditional observances (oro), which impose specific restrictions on conduct. Among these is the prohibition against standing up or initiating certain gestures of greeting, regardless of the status or personality involved. 

These rites are not optional, nor are they selective; they are absolute obligations sworn to upon ascension to the throne.

The Alaafin, therefore, acted not out of pride, rivalry, or disrespect, but out of fidelity to tradition. To expect otherwise would be to demand that he compromise the sanctity of an institution that predates modern Nigeria itself.

This moment should prompt sober reflection among the Yoruba people. We must collectively decide whether we still value our culture, hierarchy, and ancestral institutions, or whether we are willing to discard them for momentary public sentiment and social media narratives.

As the historic guardian of Yoruba civilization, diplomacy, and cultural continuity, the Alaafin of Oyo does not act on impulse or personal emotion. Those who castigate his conduct must understand that the Alaafin is not merely an individual, but the living embodiment of an ancient institution governed by immutable customs.

The Alaafin is the heir to the legacy of the Oyo Empire one of the greatest political formations in West African history. From the 14th to the 19th centuries, the empire unified vast Yoruba territories, projected military power, institutionalized governance, and spread Yoruba culture across present-day Nigeria and Benin.

To respect the Alaafin is to respect this history—not as an act of superiority over other thrones, but as acknowledgment of distinct roles within a shared cultural heritage.

As the most supreme King in Yorubaland, the Alaafin seeks peace, harmony, and mutual respect among all Yoruba traditional institutions. He harbors no ill will toward any king. He only remains faithful to the sacred trust handed down through centuries.

Tradition must not be misunderstood. Fidelity must not be mistaken for arrogance. And silence must not be misread as hostility.

I am confident that you will take all necessary steps to protect your office and the traditions of the Yoruba people. I wish you strength, courage, and wisdom in this matter