A fresh royal quarrel is brewing in Yorubaland. The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has warned the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, against issuing a 48-hour ultimatum over the controversial chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
The title was recently given to Ibadan-born businessman and philanthropist, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni. The Alaafin has now declared that such a decision is beyond the Ooni’s authority.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade described the Ooni’s action as “an affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, who alone holds the exclusive right to confer a title covering the entire Yorubaland.”
The Dispute Over Authority
According to the Alaafin, the Supreme Court had long ruled that only the Alaafin can grant a chieftaincy title that spans all Yoruba territories.
“The Ooni is behaving as if no authority can call him to order,” the statement read. “He walks over everybody’s back, even the apex court, which affirmed the Alaafin’s exclusive powers.”
The Alaafin also reminded the Ooni that the instrument of office given to him during his coronation limited his authority to Ile-Ife and its surrounding local governments. “That is his traditional boundary,” the Alaafin said.
This battle of words has thrown a spotlight on a rivalry that dates back centuries. The Alaafin and the Ooni are two of the most powerful crowns in Yorubaland, each tracing authority to the ancient Oyo Empire and the spiritual cradle of Ife. Their relationship has often swung between cooperation and subtle tension.
Calls for Unity Amidst Rivalry
Despite his sharp warning, the Alaafin stressed the importance of peace. He recalled his unity tours across Yorubaland where he urged monarchs to avoid divisions.
“It is the joy of our forefathers for us to be in unity,” he told traditional rulers. “They did their part to secure peace, and we must continue the same. God Himself is involved in our matter, so we must put peace first if we want development.”
He added that no sustainable progress would come to Yorubaland without harmony among its custodians of tradition.
Yet, his statement also accused the Ooni of “misconceiving the Alaafin’s peace initiative as weakness.” He warned that failure to withdraw the chieftaincy title within 48 hours would bring consequences.
A Clash Bigger Than Titles?
At the heart of this fight is more than a title for one man. It speaks to the delicate balance of Yoruba traditional authority. For decades, arguments have surfaced over who truly holds supremacy—the Alaafin as political titan of old Oyo, or the Ooni as spiritual father in Ife.
In 2018, a similar flare-up occurred when the Alaafin and Ooni disagreed over ceremonial precedence during a gathering of Yoruba Obas. Scholars often argue that such conflicts weaken the unity that leaders like Obafemi Awolowo once urged Yoruba people to protect.
As modern Nigeria struggles with ethnic harmony and identity, the way its foremost traditional rulers handle disputes can influence how millions of Yoruba people perceive unity and leadership.
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