By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has refuted reports of a rift between him and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Oba Owoade’s recent visit to some monarchs in Osun state — Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude and Oluwo of Iwo — had triggered widespread insinuations on social media, with many interpreting the gesture as a snub on the Ooni of Ife. Reacting, Oba Owoade said he had intended to visit the Ooni as the first point of call during the visit but was informed that Oba Adeyeye was out of the country.
In the now-viral video, Oba Owoade who spoke in Yoruba said: “It is not something you hide. Before we made all preparations for this journey, one of the kings I intended to visit was the Ooni of Ife
“I informed my PA and Chief of Staff earlier to know when we would visit him, and his PAs were also contacted before we were informed he went to Kazakhstan.
“People who do not know about this are the ones spreading rumours on the internet. I have no rift with the Ooni. There was even a time I was with the Soun (of Ogbomoso), and we both spoke with the Ooni on the phone.”