Ooni of Ife visits Alaafin of Oyo…first time an Ooni will visit an Alaafin since 1937
History was made yesterday Sunday January 17th when the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II paid an unexpected visit to the Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi who was celebrating his 45th coronation anniversary on the throne. It was the first time in 79 years that an Ooni of Ife will visit an Alaafin of Oyo, following a cold war of supremacy said to have been in existence between the (previous) two monarchs for over 7 decades. The last time a reigning Ooni of Ife visited an Alaafin was in 1937.
Oba Ogunwusi while speaking at the thanksgiving service said though he was not invited, he had to make an effort to come so as to end the war and foster unity within the Yorubas both home and abroad.
“I am here today, though not invited, but as the Arole Oduduwa, the onus is on me to felicitate with all sons and daughters wherever they are and to show my solidarity for them. I am ready to damn any consequences or insinuations from anywhere; my mission here is to preach peace among nations of Yoruba both home and abroad and I am ready to work with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi to project the unity and love which existed in days of our forefathers.” The Alaafin of Oyo expressed his excitement at seeing the Ooni in his domain ” “This special visit was done last in March 1937, that was the first time the kings in Yorubaland met in Oyo town and today history was made with the visit of Arole Oodua, Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and I feel delighted to host you and to reassure you that I will be ready to work with you. I had a cordial relationship with Ooni Adesoji Aderemi and I did not want to relent my bound with any Ooni of Ife that assumed the post but everybody has his own little differences.”he said