A major traditional dispute has seemingly erupted in Yorubaland as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has reportedly faulted the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Ibadan-based business mogul, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, popularly known as Ilaji, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
According to a report by Nigerian Tribune, Alaafin Owoade, through a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaye, described the conferment as a direct affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin. He stressed that the authority to bestow any title that covers the entirety of Yorubaland rests solely with the Alaafin, whom he described as the Titan of Yorubaland.
The monarch, in the statement, argued that the Ooni had overstepped his boundaries, noting that even the Supreme Court had previously ruled that only the Alaafin possesses the exclusive right to confer a chieftaincy title with jurisdiction over the entire Yorubaland.
“The Ooni of Ife is behaving as if there is no authority to check him. That ‘above the law’ mindset has led him into taking steps that undermine other traditional institutions, including judgments of the apex court,” the Alaafin’s aide declared in the statement.
It was also noted that the instrument of office presented to Ooni Ogunwusi during his installation clearly restricted his jurisdiction to the former Oranmiyan Local Government area in Osun State, which now comprises Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South LGAs.
Demanding immediate action, the Alaafin allegedly gave the Ooni a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the title conferred on Sanusi, warning that failure to do so would have consequences, further accused Ooni Ogunwusi of disregarding his peace and unity initiatives for Yorubaland, stressing that such unilateral actions were “ultra vires and derogatory to the Titan of Yorubaland.”
“The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is being put to test. It is obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni to order and demand the revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland title within 48 hours,” the statement concluded.
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The development has sparked intense debate across Yoruba socio-political circles, with observers warning that the Ooni of Ife faces strong objection from Alaafin of Oyo over title conferment in Yorubaland could deepen cracks within the traditional hierarchy unless swiftly resolved.
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