The event was the West Africa Economic Summit held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday and had hardly closed in the afternoon when “The Oyo Legacies”, a media wing of palace of Alaafin posted edited video only showing Baba Alaafin refusing to greet Baba Ooni against true representation of the conduct of the Oyo monarch
In a statement released to Pressmen on Sunday explained that the Co-chairman, National Council Of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, had already been ushered in and was majestically seated at the VIP waiting room of the conference centre.
Alongside some of his business associates and friends including: Balogun Lai Labode, Kurunmi of Ijaye and Are Ona-Kakanfo-Elect of Egbaland, Bashorun Eniola Fayose, Bashorun Adunbarin Oodua & Awise of Orile-Igbon and Dr Ayo Falil Abina, the Asoju Oodua who were all equally invited participants at the first of its economic summit in the West Africa sub region al block.
He further said that his Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Akeem Owoade, Elewuetu I, few minutes later arrived his own royal candour and walked straight to the Ooni’s seat for royal greetings while the Arole Oduduwa reciprocated the honour accorded him the Alaafin as he rose to welcome his brother traditional ruler while both exchange pleasantries and few jokes before Alaafin eventually went to take his seat he had earlier bypassed alongside his amiable queen.
When they were both called upon to move into the main hall of the conference centre, it was the Ooni that first left the VIP waiting room, and almost same time followed by the Alaafin to take respective seats officially tagged in their names inside the hall where the event was ready to be kicked off by Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Setting the record straight, Ooni Spokesman said, it is hereby found so disheartening the manner of arrogance with which Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin Akeem Owoade, was reported in a videocast released by his own media promoters; Oyo Legacies.
He stated that the media blatantly refused to report their principal in his true and positive conduct of virtuous enviablity greatly displayed in his exchange of pleasantries with the Ooni and other dignitaries in Abuja yesterday.
“Either you like it or not, members of the public must react to such information disseminations. The roles of media handlers to their principals primarily involve acting as a communication bridge between the principal
“And the public and other stakeholders, they must work to support their principal by managing his image in a way to get him loved and respected in the society not to get him hated and disrespected as the said video has caused”.
He said, “Kabiyesi Alaafin Owoade did excellently well in his approach to Kabiyesi Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Ogunwusi in Abuja and it should have been so adequately reported by The Oyo Legacies showcasing him as a monarch of peace and harmony that he is and not the otherwise, which the video has portrayed him.
“Alaafin Owoade, going by his conduct, is a man of peace and someone who values relationships. He even seized the opportunity yesterday to book an appointment to visit the Ooni at Ile-Ife before this week runs out.
“All Baba should do is to ensure that the palace media team be subjected to trainings in the areas of work ethics and protocols of Principal’s Image Management. Alaafin’s Media Team Must Be Regiged”.
