The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has dismissed rumours suggesting that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for the ancient town.
In a statement on Monday, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, urged Muslim faithful and residents to remain calm, noting that the selection process was still ongoing and subject to wider consultations.
He described the speculations making the rounds as unfounded.
“The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to wild speculations milling round that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for Oyo. The good people of Oyo and members of the public are advised to disregard such unfounded, baseless and wicked information, as no candidate has been chosen for the number one Islamic seat in Oyo town,” the statement read.
The palace stressed that only His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, retains the exclusive authority to appoint a new Chief Imam, adding that the rightful decision would be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has blamed the recurring rivalries among Yoruba monarchs on their followers.
He asserted that supporters are often responsible for fuelling discord by initiating contested historical narratives.
Speaking while receiving the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, and his wife, who paid him a courtesy visit, he dismissed the notion of a supremacy contest between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade
“I have always maintained that neither the Ooni nor the Alaafin is the cause of disunity. In trying to defend different historical accounts, their supporters end up creating unnecessary conflict. They forget that history can be subjective,” Oba Ladoja said.
He urged Yoruba people to put aside divisive historical debates and focus instead on peace, unity, and collective progress.
Using an international analogy, the Olubadan-designate compared the situation to Britain’s colonial ties with America.
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