Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed claims that he insulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, during his visit to the Ooni of Ife’s palace, insisting that his remarks were self-praise drawn from his lineage’s traditional eulogy.
In a video late Saturday, he clarified that the words he uttered at the palace were misunderstood.
He appealed for forgiveness from the Alaafin and reiterated that he could never deliberately disrespect him.
He said, “My father, Olugbon, called me and explained to me that our father, Alaafin of Oyo, said I was abusing him when I was at the Ooni of Ife’s palace. I was not abusing you; why would I be abusing you? Olugbon is not a small king in Yoruba land, and if he corrects me on something, I will definitely make amendments immediately.
“Alaafin is not a small king in Yoruba land for someone like me to be talking anyhow to. I’m also from Oyo. That’s the way they normally eulogize us in my lineage, which the Alaafin is also aware of.
“They would say, ‘Lade Lade Lade, Alaafin doesn’t have a crown, it is the crown of Aladikun that was collected for Alaafin’. That’s how they eulogize us in our Aladikun lineage.
“Ooni of Ife is a peaceful person; if not, I’ve abused him before, and when I entered his palace, they were still eulogizing me in his presence and he didn’t say anything. So I also eulogized myself as a true son of Aladikun. All these things did not annoy the Ooni of Ife. He still celebrated me and called other powerful monarchs to honour and pray for me.
“I have nothing to gain in abusing Alaafin. What I’m after is for peace to reign among all of our kings; that is our prayer.
“Please, forgive me, I dare not disrespect you.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune