I Didn't Abuse Alaafin With My Eulogy — Igboho Clarifies

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has faulted the viral claims that he insulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, during his visit to the Ooni of Ife’s palace.

According to the Akoni Oodua, his remarks were self-praise drawn from his lineage’s traditional eulogy popularly known as Oriki.

Adeyemo, who made the clarification in a video, said his expressions at the palace were misunderstood. 

Igboho explained that his reference to the Alaafin not having a crown was not intended as an insult but as part of his family’s praise chant, which, according to him, is well-known to the Alaafin himself.

He maintained that he holds the Alaafin in high regard, describing him as an important ruler in Yorubaland, and emphasised that he had no reason to ridicule him.

According to him, his intention is to promote peace and unity among Yoruba monarchs, not to stir conflict. 

Igboho, however, appealed for forgiveness from the Alaafin and reiterated that he could never deliberately disrespect him.

“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.”, he concluded.