Alaafin Warns Ooni Over ‘Okanlomo of Yorubaland’ Title
The two foremost monarchs in yoruba land, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi are at loggerheads once again, over who has the right to confer chieftaincy title that covers the entire yoruba land. The dispute arises from the Ooni’s decision to bestow a Yoruba-wide title on Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi, a move the Alaafin has strongly rejected.
Over the weekend, the Ooni conferred on Sanusi the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, at Ilaji Hotel in Ibadan. The monarch praised Sanusi’s contributions to the cultural and economic development of the Yoruba race, describing them as unparalleled.
Alaafin Rejects Ooni’s ‘Okanlomo of Yorubaland’ Title, Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum for Revocation
However, the Alaafin did not take it lightly. In a statement issued on Monday through his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Oyo monarch declared that the Ooni had overstepped his authority.
According to him, only the Alaafin reserves the right to confer titles with Yoruba-wide significance. Anything else, he argued, is not only unlawful but a direct affront to tradition.
“The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is now being put to a crucial test,”
the statement read.
“The Ooni of Ife is behaving as if there is no authority to check him. Because of that ‘above-the-law’ syndrome, he is in the habit of walking on everybody’s back, including the Supreme Court, which had ruled on the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin to confer any chieftaincy title that covers the entire Yorubaland.”
The Alaafin went further, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the title to be revoked, warning that failure to comply would attract “dire consequences.” While he did not spell out what those consequences might be, the tone of his statement left little doubt about the seriousness of the threat.
Legal and Traditional Basis of Alaafin’s Objection
At the heart of this supremacy tussle is the issue of jurisdiction. The Alaafin insists that the Ooni’s authority is strictly limited to Ile-Ife and its environs, specifically Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South Local Government Areas in Osun State. Granting a Yoruba-wide title, therefore, is seen as not just an overreach, but an erosion of the authority historically reserved for the Alaafin’s throne.
This is not the first time the two stools have been involved in supremacy disputes. The question of who truly holds supreme royal authority across Yorubaland has long been a sensitive one.
The previous Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, famously conferred the title of Mayegun of Yorubaland on Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1).
On his part, Ooni Ogunwusi has also in the past handed out Yoruba-wide titles, including in 2024 when he installed businessman Muraina Olashile Alexandra as Agbakin Bashorun of Yorubaland and his wife as Yeye Agbakin Bashorun.
This has often led to debates among cultural historians and Yoruba elders about the boundaries of tradition and the balance of power between these two highly revered monarchs.
The object of the recent battle, Dotun Sanusi, is an Ibadan businessman who is not new to the traditional power ladder. He already holds the title of Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland, placing him on the civil line of succession to the Olubadan throne. His acceptance of the new Yoruba-wide title has raised eyebrows, with some questioning how it fits into his role within the Ibadan chieftaincy system.
On his Facebook page, Sanusi expressed gratitude to the Ooni, calling the recognition a nod to his commitment to cultural and economic progress in Yorubaland. Though both monarchs have often spoken of unity, their relationship has been the subject of speculation for months. In June, after visiting the Oluwo of Iwo, Alaafin Owoade had to deny rumors of a rift with the Ooni, explaining that he simply hadn’t been able to visit him due to scheduling issues.
Yoruba Supremacy Tussle: Alaafin vs Ooni
Around the same time, a viral video appeared to show Alaafin snubbing the Ooni at the West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja. The Ooni’s camp later dismissed the clip as “mischievously edited,” insisting that the two had warmly exchanged greetings earlier.
Despite his ultimatum, the Alaafin emphasized that his ultimate goal remains unity in Yorubaland. He warned against mistaking his peace-building efforts for weakness, reminding all traditional rulers of their duty to foster harmony.
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