The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade last week paid sympathy visits to the Oba Adeyemi in his palace as a result of the inferno suggesting that the rivalry may have been put to rest.
The Oyo monarch and the Ooni of Ife had about three months ago engaged each other in an altercation over the celebration of “Oranyan Festival” by the Alaafin, to which Ooni claimed exclusive preserve, but which like similar face-off; Alaafin denigrated the status of the Ooni and his insubordination among the children of Oduduwa.
Likewise, before this time, the relationship between the Alaafin and the Olubadan has also been frosty with the latter contesting the permanent chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs with the former, leading to the comatose state of the council till date.
However, the two monarchs joined many other royal fathers and eminent personalities, who have shown their empathy for the foremost traditional ruler, who lost three apartments belonging to three of his wives to the fire.
The apartments, which comprised 21 rooms, were razed by the inferno caused by electrical surge, just as two important apartments housing two deities: Ori and Ifa, were also destroyed including the artifacts therein.
In spite of the scathing and vitriolic media attacks against each other, the Ooni on Saturday, January 12, 2013, sent a powerful delegation of his council members to the Alaafin to express his heart-felt sympathy for the irreparable loss incurred through the conflagration.
Delivering the message of the Ooni, which was appreciated by the Alaafin, was His Royal Highness, Oba J.A. Awe, the Onisare of Ife, who led two of his counterparts, A.O. Fabunmi, the Laadin of Ife, and Adeyoye Adekola, the Sarun of Ife.
The Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran from Osun state, also sent emissaries to the Alaafin. He was represented by High Chief A.J. Oladele, the Odole of Ilesa and High Chief Risewe of Ilesa.
On behalf of the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council, the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun on Sunday, 13th January, 2013, led Femi Olaifa, also a High Chief to the palace sympathising with the Alaafin on the ugly fire incident, which he said took them by surprise.
Having delivered Olubadan’s letter, one of the Kingmakers, the Samu of Oyo, however expressed Alaafin’s displeasure at the late coming of the Olubadan’s representatives, saying that “We had expected the Olubadan to have sent delegates to Oyo to oversee things for himself before now. Afterall, all Ibadans are Oyos. Many of you people migrated from here to Ibadan”.
Responding, Balogun, a Senator, said the late-coming was due to his absence from the state at the time, which according to him, the Olubadan-in-Council felt uncomfortable about. He nevertheless thanked God on behalf of the Alaafin that no life was lost in the inferno, which took fire fighters about three hours to put out.
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