By Our Correspondent
A royal confrontation is unfolding in Yorubaland as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has given the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the conferment of the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland recently bestowed on Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
The Alaafin, in a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, accused the Ooni of acting beyond his traditional jurisdiction and flouting a Supreme Court judgment, which he claimed had long established that the prerogative of conferring pan-Yoruba titles rests solely with the Alaafin of Oyo.
“The conferment of a chieftaincy title that borders on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is not only an affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland, but also a violation of the Supreme Court ruling affirming the Alaafin’s exclusive rights,” the statement read.
Oba Owoade accused the Ooni of cultivating an “above the law” attitude, saying his continuous disregard for established tradition and judicial pronouncements amounts to an attempt to usurp powers outside his mandate.
He further stressed that the Ooni’s authority is constitutionally and traditionally restricted to the Ife axis, namely Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South local governments.
“The dictum that nobody is above the law is now being put to a crucial test,” the Alaafin warned, demanding immediate revocation of the title, or consequences would follow.
Ironically, the Alaafin, who recently embarked on a unity tour of Yoruba monarchs, reiterated his call for peace and cohesion among traditional rulers in the region.
He stressed that “no meaningful and sustainable development will come without peace and unity,” accusing the Ooni of undermining such efforts with divisive actions.
Oba Owoade lamented that instead of building on centuries of shared heritage, the Ooni’s recent action fuels discord and weakens the symbolic cohesion that the Yoruba nation requires in an era of economic hardship and political marginalisation.
At the centre of this latest confrontation is the chieftaincy title conferred on Sanusi, a wealthy businessman known for his influence in Ibadan.
The Alaafin argued that by styling the title as “of Yorubaland”, the Ooni overstepped his bounds, since no other monarch has jurisdiction to bestow a title covering the entire Yoruba nation.
He described the move as “ultra vires, derogatory, and an affront to the Titan of Yorubaland,” stressing that it violates Yoruba customs and judicial rulings that have affirmed his stool’s unique authority.
*Age-long supremacy tussle among Yoruba monarchs resurfaces
The confrontation is the latest chapter in the age-long supremacy tussle between the Oyo and Ife thrones.
While the Ooni of Ife is traditionally regarded as the spiritual custodian of the Yoruba, being the occupant of Oduduwa’s ancestral seat, the Alaafin of Oyo historically wielded imperial political authority during the height of the Oyo Empire.
This uneasy balance has often resurfaced in subtle rivalries and open clashes over matters of authority, prestige, and the right to confer pan-Yoruba titles.
Similar disputes have in the past raised tensions among Yoruba monarchs, with political elites often caught in the crossfire.
The renewed supremacy battle risks deepening divisions among Yoruba monarchs at a time when unity is critical.
The Yoruba socio-political space is currently navigating issues of economic hardship, calls for restructuring, and demands for stronger regional integration.
