Ibadan-born politician and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Niyi Akintola, has likened the Alaafin to a ‘god’ who has no rival among other traditional leaders.
Akintola, a traditional chieftaincy title holder in his Ido community in Ibadan, stated this during a recent radio interview by Honour FM, Ibadan, monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM.
“Alaafin is not a king that you look at. He has no rival. In the past, when the Alaafin is passing through other towns, the traditional ruler in those enclaves must not raise up their head. They will face the grown and be hailing him, Kabiyesi,” he said.
Speaking further, he explained that the Alaafin is superior to any other traditional ruler in Yoruba land.
“The nomenclature of obaship itself in Yorubaland started with Alaafin. So when you’re talking about Obaship, Alaafin is at the apex. He has no rival.
“Of recent, one Governor was stupid enough to stretch out his hand to greet Alaafin Adeyemi. How dare you stretch out to the Alaafin? Until the Kabiyesi himself stretches his hand to you, no Yoruba man born from a proper pedigree will stand before an Alaafin and stretch out his hand to him. It’s not done,” he noted.
