Alaafin seeks Professor Ademola Dasylva’s public apology over late-arrival allegation

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has demanded a public apology from Professor Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva over comments alleging that the Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, arrived several hours late to the inauguration of the Alaafin’s Institute of Yoruba Studies at Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo.

In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, the palace described the remarks as inaccurate and said the monarch’s arrival was in line with a revised schedule that had been communicated to the university before the event.

According to the statement, the institution initially proposed 11:00 a.m. as the Alaafin’s arrival time. However, the palace said its Director of Administration, who served as the liaison between the palace and the university, later informed the organisers that the monarch would be travelling with other paramount traditional rulers from outside Oyo State and would arrive between noon and 1:00 p.m.

The palace maintained that the revised arrangement was communicated well ahead of the programme to enable the organisers adjust their plans, adding that claims suggesting the monarch arrived late ignored the official correspondence exchanged before the event.

It criticised Prof. Dasylva for making public comments without first confirming the facts with the organisers, noting that he was neither a member of the event’s planning committee nor part of the protocol team responsible for coordinating the monarch’s attendance.

The statement also defended the royal protocol surrounding the Alaafin’s official engagements, explaining that the monarch’s movements often involve palace officials, traditional chiefs and other royal fathers, making advance coordination essential.

The palace said the Alaafin’s attendance at the inauguration underscored his commitment to promoting Yoruba language, culture and scholarship, describing his presence as a significant endorsement of the institute established in his honour.

The palace called on Prof. Dasylva to withdraw his remarks and tender a public apology, while urging public commentators to verify information before making statements involving traditional institutions. It insisted that the Alaafin attended the event according to the revised schedule communicated to the organisers and urged the public to disregard contrary claims.