The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has dismissed as false and malicious reports circulating on social media that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, the Alaafin of Oyo was ridiculed during the 91st birthday celebrations of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, the palace described the report as the handiwork of “devilish bloggers” bent on maligning the revered institution.
According to the palace, the Alaafin enjoys a long-standing cordial relationship with Chief Igbinedion, dating back to the days of the late Alaafin Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. It noted that Chief Igbinedion had consistently invited the late monarch to his annual month-long birthday celebrations as Royal Father of the Day, a tradition that has now been extended to Oba Owoade.
The palace stressed that the Alaafin was accorded full honours during his recent visit to Benin, including a civic reception from the airport, the use of limousine cars for his entourage, and a specially reserved seat at the celebrant’s residence. “In fact, of all the invited guests, only the Alaafin and his entourage were allowed into Chief Igbinedion’s residence,” the statement said.
On the thanksgiving service held at the Catholic Church, the palace clarified that the celebrant, due to his advanced age, politely requested Kabiyesi to shift slightly to allow him and his wife sit beside him. This, the palace explained, was done with utmost respect and without any intention to ridicule the monarch.
“It is illogical and baseless for anyone to suggest that a celebrant with decades of friendship and robust ties with the Alaafin would plot to humiliate him,” the statement added.
The palace urged the public to disregard what it termed a concocted and fabricated report aimed at ridiculing the Alaafin and destabilizing peace. It warned those spreading such “evil manipulations” that they were “murdering peace and shall know no peace in their lifetimes.”
