Chieftaincy title: Why Ooni of Ife won’t react to Alaafin’s 48-hour threat — Palace aide

A fresh dispute has emerged between two prominent Yoruba monarchs following the conferment of a Yoruba-wide chieftaincy title by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Ibadan-based businessman, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, through a statement issued on Monday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, described the title  “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” as an affront and issued a 48-hour ultimatum for its withdrawal. The Alaafin argued that the Ooni had overstepped his traditional authority, stressing that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to confer chieftaincy titles with jurisdiction across the entirety of Yorubaland.

Quoting a Supreme Court ruling to support his position, the Alaafin accused the Ooni of disregarding both judicial and traditional structures. He warned of unspecified consequences should the title not be revoked within the given timeframe.

In response, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, stated via a Facebook post on Tuesday that Oba Ogunwusi had deliberately chosen not to issue a formal statement. According to him, the Ooni deemed the matter unworthy of official engagement and would rather allow public opinion to take its course.

Olafare emphasized that the palace would not be drawn into what he termed "an undignified exchange," and called for media attention to be redirected toward narratives that promote unity among the Yoruba people. He dismissed the ultimatum as baseless, stating: “No press release, please. 48 hours my foot.”

The tension between the two palaces echoes a similar incident from 1991 when the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, opposed the conferment of a Yoruba-wide title by the then Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, on Chief Tom Ikimi. At the time, the Alaafin condemned the act as a breach of protocol and a disregard for the sacredness of traditional institutions.

As developments unfold, the matter continues to stir public discourse, with stakeholders closely watching both palaces and the broader implications for traditional leadership within Yorubaland.