By Adeola Badru
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade has demanded an apology and retraction from Professor Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva over comments alleging that the monarch arrived three hours late to the inauguration of the Alaafin’s Institute of Yoruba Studies at Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo.
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In a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, described the remarks attributed to the professor as “reckless”, insisting that the monarch’s arrival was in line with an adjusted schedule that had already been communicated to the organisers.
Durojaiye said it was inaccurate and unfair to portray the Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, as arriving late, stressing that the Palace had informed the university in advance that the monarch would be travelling with other paramount traditional rulers from outside Oyo State.
“For the records, the original schedule proposed by the university indicated 11:00 a.m. as the time for His Imperial Majesty’s arrival.“
“However, before the commencement of the event, the Director of Administration of the Alaafin’s Palace formally communicated that the Alaafin would be arriving with other paramount Obas travelling from outside Oyo State,” the statement read.
It added that the Palace made it “unequivocally clear” that the monarch’s entourage could not arrive before noon or 1:00 p.m., noting that the information was conveyed in good faith to allow proper planning.
“This communication was not an afterthought. It was made deliberately and in good faith to enable proper planning. To therefore feign surprise and launch into public castigation is either a wilful disregard of facts or a deliberate act of provocation,” Durojaiye stated.
The Palace further argued that the movement of the Alaafin involves established royal protocols and coordination with other traditional rulers, saying it was inappropriate to expect an imperial procession to conform to arrangements made without full consultation.
“The Palace does not move in isolation. When the Alaafin moves, he moves with the dignity of Oyo, with the council, and often in concert with other crowns. To expect an imperial procession to conform to a timetable designed without full consultation is to misunderstand both monarchy and courtesy,” the statement said.
Durojaiye also questioned the basis of Dasylva’s comments, maintaining that the professor was neither the convener of the event nor a member of the protocol team and was not privy to communications between the Palace and the university.
“The honourable and scholarly path would have been to inquire from the organisers before rushing to the marketplace of public opinion with insults. A professor of repute is expected to embody circumspection, research and restraint,” he said.
While acknowledging Dasylva’s contributions to Yoruba scholarship, the Palace insisted that criticism must be based on verified facts, warning against what it described as attacks on Yoruba traditional institutions.
“We therefore demand retraction and apology for remarks made without due consultation and in disregard of prior communication from the Palace,” Durojaiye said.
The Palace maintained that the Alaafin attended the event according to the schedule communicated to organisers and described the monarch’s presence at the inauguration as a demonstration of his commitment to Yoruba education, culture and scholarship.
“The Alaafin did not come late. He came according to schedule, as duly communicated. To say otherwise is to bear false witness,” the statement added.
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