There is a growing tension in the southwest as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland that was recently conferred on an Ibadan businessman, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
Bode Durojaiye, the director of media and publicity to the Alaafin, in a statement on Monday, August 18, the Alaafin described the action of the Ooni as an affront and direct challenge to his authority. He said the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to give titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.
Alaafin of Oyo orders Ooni of Ife to withdraw the traditional title he gave a busineeman
Photo Credit: @Yorubaness
Source: TwitterIn the statement, the Alaafin described the action of the Ooni as an insult and ultra vires. He added:
“The Supreme Court itself has ruled that only the Alaafin has such authority. Yet, the Ooni continues to act above the law, trampling on both tradition and the courts,” the statement thundered.”
The Alaafin explained that the staff of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi when he was installed restricted his authority to the Oranmiyan local government, which has now been split into Ife North, Ife South and Ife Central
Oba Owoade insisted that the Ooni did not have the mandate to confer a traditional title that would cover the whole of Yorubaland on anyone, insisting that “this must stop.”
The Alaafin further argued that the dignity of the Yoruba traditional institution was being put to the test, adding that there would be consequences should the Ooni fail to withdraw the title within 48 hours.
Oba Owoade recounted his unity tour across the Yoruba kingdom and argued that development and peace would only thrive when there is respect for hierarchy and tradition.
He stressed that the forefathers of the Yoruba Kingdom fought for unity and that the present generation must preserve it. However, according to Owoade, the Ooni of Ife is taking his peace initiative as a weakness, while describing the conferment as “provocative actions”.
The face-off between the two royal fathers would set the stage for another historic clash in Yorubaland. The development had raised concerns about a looming rift which could threaten the delicate balance of traditional authority in the southwest region.
Source: Legit.ng
