ALAAFIN OF OYO SHUNS OONI OF IFE

ALAAFIN OF OYO SHUNS OONI’S MEETING

Oba Lamidi and some of wives

■ The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, had cancelled an appointment he gave to the ‘OONI’S CAUCUS’, a Yoruba group which was inaugurated at the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on July 20,2021.

The group which is made up of many influential Yoruba persons and coordinated by former managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Akin Osuntokun were at the palace  of the Alaafin for an 11am appointment last Friday, but after waiting for about two and half hours, Oba Lamidi sent words to them that he would not be able to see them.

According to the report, amongst the visiting delegates with Osuntokun were a monarch, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Aloa; a former presidential spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe; a former commisioner in Osun State, Muyiwa Ige; a former Minister of Defence, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja; a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, Oye Oyewumi, Sola Lawal, among others.

The report also stated that the group had through the Olugbon secured an appointment with the Alaafin on Monday and it was reconfirmed on Thursday but only for them to be stood down by the monarch on Friday.

There are claims the action of Oba Lamidi must have come from heels of the group’s tolerance of the self-determination activist, Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho. The Oduduwa nation activist is currently been held and tried in Cotonou, Benin Republic at the request of the Nigerian Presidency seeking his extradition.

The Alaafin does seem not to be seen fraternizing with critics and opposition of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. But when contacted, the Media Head to the palace, Bode Durojaye, denied the approval of whatsoever prior appointment by his principal to the Yoruba group and advised them to take appropriate steps of booking appointment with the Alaafin of Oyo.