Ooni of Ife Dismisses Alaafin’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Chieftaincy Title Dispute

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Ooni of Ife Dismisses Alaafin’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Chieftaincy Title Dispute

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The simmering rivalry between two of Yorubaland’s foremost traditional rulers—the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade—has once again come to the fore, following a heated dispute over a recently conferred chieftaincy title.

On Monday, the Alaafin of Oyo issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, demanding that he revoke the title of “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” bestowed upon Ibadan businessman and philanthropist, Chief Dotun Sanusi, owner of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts. The Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as an affront to his authority and a violation of Yoruba tradition, asserting that only the Alaafin of Oyo holds the exclusive prerogative to confer chieftaincy titles that carry pan-Yoruba significance.

Ooni’s Camp: “Empty Threats”

In a terse response, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum, describing it as an “empty threat.” Writing via his Facebook handle, Olafare said Oba Ogunwusi had instructed that no formal press statement be issued on the matter.

“My Principal has directed me against issuing a Press Release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala. I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press,” Olafare stated.

He further urged the public to focus on unity rather than division:

“Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No Press Release please. 48 Hours My Foot!!!”

The Ooni’s camp signalled that the matter would be left to the “public court of opinion”, effectively rejecting the Alaafin’s demand and refusing to be drawn into what it sees as unnecessary confrontation.

Renewed Royal Rivalry

The clash underscores a long-standing rivalry between the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, two stools that historically represent different poles of Yoruba traditional authority.

The Ooni of Ife, regarded as the spiritual head of the Yoruba people, traces his authority to Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race. By contrast, the Alaafin of Oyo historically wielded political and military power as head of the Oyo Empire, once the most dominant Yoruba kingdom.

Oba Abimbola Owoade, who ascended as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in January 2025, has sought to reassert Oyo’s claim to supremacy, particularly regarding titles that apply beyond local jurisdictions. His statement referenced both a Supreme Court ruling and the Ooni’s instrument of office, which he argued limit the Ooni’s authority to the Ife domain.

The Broader Implications

This latest dispute highlights ongoing tensions within Yoruba traditional institutions over supremacy and jurisdiction, issues that have periodically flared into public disagreements between leading monarchs. While such contests are often steeped in history, critics warn that they risk undermining efforts to foster unity in Yorubaland at a time when the region faces pressing socio-economic challenges.

For many observers, the symbolic nature of the Ooni’s title conferment on Chief Sanusi is secondary to the wider question: who holds the ultimate authority to speak and act on behalf of all Yoruba people?

While the Ooni’s camp appears determined to downplay the matter, the Alaafin’s insistence on enforcing exclusive authority may signal a prolonged tug-of-war between both thrones.

As the debate intensifies, many Yoruba leaders and stakeholders are calling for restraint, urging the monarchs to prioritise unity over rivalry in the collective interest of their people.

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Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org

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