Ooni, Alaafin in royal tango
Amid vitriolic exchanges between two frontline royal fathers in Yorubaland – the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade and Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 – over conferment of a chieftaincy title, the Alaafin on Thursday embarked on historical voyage to assert himself as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation”, stressing that hedid not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Oba Owoade stirred the hornet’s nest on Monday when he publicly challenged the authority of the Ooni of Ife to confer the traditional chieftaincy title of ‘Okanlomo of Yorubaland’ on an Ibadan-born engineer, philanthropist, and the Bada Olubadan designate, Dotun Sanusi during the unveiling of an indigenous social media website tagged ‘2GEDA’, at the Ilaji resorts, Ibadan.
The Alaafin, in a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, not only declared that “The conferment of chieftaincy title which bothers 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 and on who hold the Exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone”, he gave Oba Ogunwusi 48 hours to withdraw the title or risk the consequences.
Firing back, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat” from a “dead empire” in a Facebook post on August 19, 2025.
Olafare, who said his principal would not “dignify the undignified” with an official response, said “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!”
And in another statement on Thursday by Durojaiye, his media aide after the expiration of the ultimatum, the Alaafin described himself as “an indomitable monarch” with an unequalled passion for the great good of all, stressing that as a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, he had always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects at all times and relied heavily on the will and wishes of his subjects.
The statement read:
“Why Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.
“These immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell. The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion.
“It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider, and progressively be able to grasp any theme or situation persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree” sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all.
“He (Alaafin) is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects and will never compromise tradition, culture and development of his people for a pot of porridge. The history has been so kind and friendly to Alaafin Owoade publicly since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as he does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.
“Alaafin combines humility with royalty to meet the modern-day demands. Kabiyesi (the king who no one questions). Iku Baba Yeye (The one who commands death/he who is parent to death). Alashe (He who wields authority). Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-command to the gods). The Alaafin was inducted into the mysteries of various gods like Ifa, Sango etc to be the direct representative of these deities on earth.
“At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, as Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition. Oduduwa’s Principal minister and grandson, Oranmiyan (Because Oduduwa begot Okanbi, (an only child and Okanbi begot Oranmiyan, among others, namely Ila-Orangun, Oni-Sabe, Olu-Popo, Ala-Ketu, Oba-Benin) founded the city of Oyo when prolonged drought struck Ile-Ife as a result of people’s emigration.
“Oyo simply rose to prominence through wealth gained from trade and its military skills. It was the largest West African empire, the most important and authoritative of all the early Yoruba principalities. Moreso, the British, as it was in their tradition, recognised lineage as meaningful supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation.
“In politics also, he is concerned about the sanctity of his position, and whatever happens on the welfare of his people. Customs and all traditional practices of today in government, religion and economic life have had distance, and possibly age-long origins which were based on valid and accepted tenets that emerged from the synthesis and aggregated experience of a particular society.
“One of such societies is the ancient city of Oyo, reputed for cultural resources that are of rich non-material and material attributes and transmitted through generations. Moreover, the precepts and concepts of Alaafin’s administration have continued to support and nurture the people’s ancient culture and sophisticated civilisation from time immemorial.
“The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line.”