The Palace of Oba Oyelude Makama Tegbosun 111 was agog with pomp and pageantry today as he hosts the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo His Royal Majesty Abimbola Owoade Akeem and his entourage.
While welcoming the Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Abimbola Owoade to his palatial palace,the Olowu of Owu-kuta,Oba Makama Oyelude Tegbosun 111,Eulogies the Alaafin of Oyo and the Oni of Ife His Royal Majesty Enitan Adeyeye(in absentia) as the fathers of all Yoruba Obas.
In his words,Oba Oyelude said,God has brought the Alaafin to the throne at the right time for the unity of the Yoruba race.
” The two of you,(the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ile-Ife) are the fathers of the Yoruba.”
“Things have gone wrong In Yorubaland, therefore,you have a greater work to do.With this, you need everyone of us. If you can unite the Yoruba it will be better for it and this is possible with the two of you” ,he said. Oba Makama enjoined the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife to take a cue from the Sultan of Sokoto who worked so hard to unite his people in the Northern part of the country.
In his response, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade Akeem acknowledged the presence of all the notable Obas present at the occasion,the Chiefs, Palace Children, sons and daughters of Kuta and his own entourage.
According to the Iku-Baba-Yeye,the Alaafin of Oyo,Oba Abimbola Owoade,he had been so busy after his coronation, but now decided to go out to to visit his people in Yorubaland.
“After my coronation,I have been so busy but now Iam trying to reach out to my people and the Yoruba Obas. Yorubaland will not decay. We came to seek all for your cooperation just as the Olowu-Kuta had said; that is what is in my own mind as well,he said.
“I am happy to be here today in Owu-Kuta. All the good things that I have heard about Owu-Kuta and the Olowu-Kuta before have been doubled by a hundred percent today,”Alaafin said.
Alaafin continues” I have been reading you on the social media for sometime now, but not really know that you are so passionate about the Yoruba race and her culture.
Alaafin did not shy away recognising two of his critics at the event Raji Abass and Awikoko(a blogger) ,who had written both positive and otherwise about him- which are misconceptions about him.
Alaafin said” At a point I looked at myself in the mirror to see if I was so bad as painted,he said. However, Alaafin said “I have forgiven you all. Awikoko,I forgive you. Go well. (applause from the audience). All I want is for the Yoruba race to move forward” Alaafin Concluded.
While the event lasted,there were different Yoruba Drama presentations from the Sango (God of thunder) adherents that formed part of the Alaafin entourage,praise singers and Yoruba drummers entertaining the Alaafin and the audience.