Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has denied insulting the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, during his visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife.
In a viral clip from the Ooni’s palace, Igboho was heard saying, “Alaafin has no crown, it was my father’s crown they collected and dashed Alaafin.” The remark drew backlash online, but Igboho now says it was an ancestral oríkì (praise chant) from his Aladikun lineage and not meant as an insult.
In a video shared on Sunday, Igboho said his words were misinterpreted as insults when in fact he was eulogising himself in line with his family’s tradition.
“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,” Igboho said.
“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.”
He continued: “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.”
Igboho, who has been seeking reconciliation with Yoruba monarchs, recently appealed to the Federal Government to remove his name from its wanted list, stressing that he is “not a criminal.”
Oba Owoade was installed as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in April 2025 following his selection by the Oyo Mesi and approval by Governor Seyi Makinde.
The clarification from Igboho comes at a time when the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, are locked in a fresh clash over chieftaincy authority. The row began after the Ooni conferred the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi. The Alaafin rejected the installation and gave a 48-hour ultimatum for its revocation, insisting only he has the authority to bestow titles across Yorubaland.
Oba Owoade also claimed the British colonial government recognised the Alaafin as “superior head of the Yoruba Nation,” a position he said was affirmed by a Supreme Court judgement.
Prominent Yoruba leaders including Aare Ona Kakanfo Gani Adams and the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon have since appealed for calm and unity between the two foremost monarchs.
