Tension is rising within the Yoruba traditional hierarchy as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
He demanded the immediate revocation of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title recently conferred on Ibadan-based business mogul, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin condemned the Ooni’s action as an “affront” to his authority.
He insisted that only the Alaafin reserves the exclusive right to bestow titles with jurisdiction across Yorubaland.
“The conferment of a Yoruba-wide chieftaincy title by the Ooni is not only ultra vires but an insult to the Titan of Yorubaland. The Supreme Court itself has ruled that only the Alaafin holds such authority. Yet, the Ooni continues to act above the law, trampling on both tradition and the courts,” the statement declared.
According to the Alaafin, the instrument of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi at his installation restricts his authority to Oranmiyan Local Government.
“He has no mandate to confer a title that covers the whole of Yorubaland. This must stop,” the statement warned.
The Alaafin further stressed that the dignity of the Yoruba traditional institution is under threat.
Also, he warns that if the Ooni fails to withdraw the title within the stipulated timeframe, “consequences will follow.”
Recounting his unity tour across Yoruba kingdoms, Oba Owoade reiterated that true peace and development can only thrive when hierarchy and tradition are respected.
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“Our forefathers sacrificed for unity, and we must preserve it. But the Ooni of Ife is mistaking the Alaafin’s peace initiative for weakness, hence these provocative actions,” he stated.
