Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo who is popularly called Sunday Igboho, has apologised to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, over a statement he made during his visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
In a video late Saturday, Sunday Igboho dismissed the claims of insulting Oba Owoade, saying “I have nothing to gain in abusing the Alaafin”.
The Yoruba nation agitator insisted that his remarks at the Ooni’s palace were self-praise drawn from his lineage’s traditional eulogy.
He maintained that he holds the Alaafin in high esteem, describing him as an important ruler in Yorubaland.
Igboho clarified that his reference to the Alaafin as not having a crown was not intended as an insult, but as part of his family’s praise chant, which was well-known to Oba Owoade himself.
He stressed that his intention was to promote peace and unity among Yoruba monarchs, not to stir conflict.
“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 eulogise us in my lineage, which the Alaafin is also aware of.
“They would say, ‘L’ade l’ade l’ade, Alaafin doesn’t have a crown, it is the crown of Aladikun that was collected for Alaafin’. That’s how they eulogise 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 eulogising me in his presence and he didn’t say anything.
“So I also eulogised 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,” Igboho pleaded with the Alaafin.
