Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, denies being in a supremacy tussle with the Ooni of Ife, stressing his exclusive authority over Yoruba-wide titles and reaffirming his role as custodian of tradition and culture
Alaafin Owoade Denies Supremacy Battle with Ooni, Reaffirms Authority Over Yoruba Titles
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed reports suggesting he is locked in a supremacy battle with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, or any other Yoruba monarch.
The clarification came in a statement released on Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Recent media reports had hinted at a fresh rift after Oba Owoade faulted the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi, popularly known as Ilaji, during the unveiling of the indigenous social media platform 2geda at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan. The Alaafin reportedly gave the Ooni a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the chieftaincy title, describing the move as an “affront” to his authority.
Oba Owoade insisted that the exclusive right to confer titles covering the entirety of Yorubaland rests with the Alaafin alone. He accused the Ooni of overstepping his traditional boundaries and ignoring a Supreme Court judgment which, according to him, affirms that prerogative.
“The conferment of chieftaincy titles that concern Yorubaland is the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin,” the statement read. “The Ooni’s action is unlawful, derogatory, and amounts to going against the authority of the Supreme Court.”
However, in Thursday’s clarification, the Alaafin emphasized that he has no interest in engaging in a supremacy contest with any monarch.
Quoting the ruler, Durojaiye said:
“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 – sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all.”
The statement described Oba Owoade as a monarch “who combines humility with royalty to meet modern-day demands,” stressing that he would never compromise tradition, culture, or the development of his people “for a pot of porridge.”
It further noted that the Alaafin remains “a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition,” spiritually empowered through his induction into the mysteries of Yoruba deities such as Ifa and Sango.
“At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect, and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition,” the statement added.
Recalling Oyo’s historical preeminence, the palace highlighted the empire’s rise to power through wealth and military might, noting that the British colonial administration once recognised the Alaafin as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation” during treaty signings.
On governance, the Alaafin reaffirmed his commitment to the sanctity of his throne and the welfare of his people.
“The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line,” the statement concluded. Read More
