Temitope Ajayi, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, has told the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade, that the era of Oyo empire is over.

Ajayi's statement was shared on X amid controversial reports involving the Oyo monarch, the latest being his absence at the inauguration of the Chairman of the Council of Obas in Oyo State, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

Following the inauguration, the Alaafin issued a statement dismissing a claim by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, that he was consulted on a policy to rotate the chairmanship of the Council of Obas between three traditional rulers - Alaafin, Olubadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso."The palace hereby wants to state clearly that there was no time that His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, held any meeting with either the state governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned above," his palace said.

Prior to the inauguration of Oba Ladoja as the first chairman of the Council of Obas in Oyo State, rumours of a feud between Alaafin and Olubadan was rife. This was heightened after the Alaafin was allegedly snubbed by the Olubadan at an event in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The incident sparked a debate, with some quarters referencing alleged supremacy battle between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye  Ogunwusi.In his submission, Tinubu's aide reminded the Alaafin that the era when his ancestors reigned supreme were over.

He said, "We are no longer in the era of Oyo Empire. Rome and United Kingdom that once ruled more than half of the world as empires can no longer claim sovereignty over the former colonies. Times have changed. We are now in a new world. Oyo Empire now belongs to history and the whole of what we now know as Yorubaland was never under the rule of Alaafin.

"The society will function well if the current natural rulers in Yorubaland understand their roles in modern society. Our kings should now work collaboratively to preserve peace, unity and development in their communities whilst preserving our cultural values."

ASA