A fresh controversy has erupted between two of Yorubaland’s most prominent traditional rulers, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the chieftaincy title Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi.
During the unveiling of the 2geda media platform in Ibadan last weekend, the Ooni conferred the title on Sanusi. In response, the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of the title, calling the move illegitimate and warning of “consequences.” The Ooni has yet to respond publicly, even as the deadline expired on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Alaafin doubled down, asserting historical supremacy and citing a colonial-era treaty as proof. According to a statement by his media aide, Bode Durojaye, the Alaafin claimed the British signed a Treaty of Cessation with his office, recognising the Alaafin as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation.”
“The British… 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,” the statement read.
The Alaafin insisted he is not seeking supremacy over any Oba but has a sacred duty to uphold Yoruba tradition. “Alaafin has sworn to his ancestors to defend and add glamour to Yoruba tradition; he would never be in a supremacy battle with any king,” it said.
READ ALSO: Alaafin: I’m not in supremacy battle with any monarch
Olugbon, Cultural group call for calm
In an effort to defuse the tension, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, urged both camps and their supporters to cease inflammatory remarks. Calling the title issue “speculative,” the Olugbon maintained that both monarchs are committed to peace and unity.
“There is no supremacy battle. Ooni remains Ooni, and Alaafin remains Alaafin,” he stated.
He appealed to Yoruba people globally to uphold the sacredness of their traditional institutions and avoid media-fuelled division.
Think Yoruba first warns against historical distortion
Meanwhile, Think Yoruba First (TYF), a socio-cultural group, held a press conference warning against “distorted narratives” of Yoruba history. TYF’s Lead Legal Consultant, Oluwatobi Sanwo, criticised a recently published academic work that claims Yoruba people were not original to Ile-Ife.
Calling the work “cultural defamation,” TYF reaffirmed that Ile-Ife remains the undisputed cradle of Yoruba civilisation, as supported by oral traditions and the Ifa corpus.
“Yoruba history is sacred, Ile-Ife non-negotiable, and identity indivisible,” Sanwo said.
TYF also called on academic institutions and government bodies to fund more research into African history and support indigenous scholarship.
