The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has given the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title recently conferred on Ibadan business tycoon, Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as an affront to the institution of the Alaafin, stressing that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive authority to confer titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
Oba Owoade therefore urged the Ooni to withdraw the ultimatum and refrain from actions capable of stirring unnecessary conflict among Yoruba traditional institutions.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has been drawn to the purported conferment of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a business tycoon, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
“The conferment of a chieftaincy title which bothers on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is an affront to the referred institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland and who holds the exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
“The Ooni of Ife is behaving as if there is no authority to check and call him to order, and because of that ‘above the law’ syndrome of his, he is in the habit of walking on everybody’s back, including the apex Court in the country, the Supreme Court, which had ruled on the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
“The instrument of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi during his installation specifically limits his traditional area of authority to Oranmiyan Local Government, which has now been split into three local governments, viz: Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South.
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“The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is now being put to a crucial test, and the reality of our time makes it very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engineer Dotun Sanusi within 48 hours, or face the consequences.
“It is a statement of fact that during Alaafin’s unity tour to Yoruba monarchs, he reiterated his message that there could not be development without unity.
“Oba Owoade had told the gathering that: ‘It is the joy of our forefathers for us to be in unity, and they did their part in ensuring peace and unity in Yorubaland; we must also strive to achieve this. God Himself is involved in our matter; therefore, we must always, at all times, be concerned about the peace and unity of Yorubaland. We say we want development, but no meaningful and sustainable development will come without peace and unity.’
“But it seems the Ooni of Ife is misconceiving the Alaafin, Paramount with the heart of gold, and his peace initiative, as the symbol of his stolidity, hence taking decisions that are not only ultra vires, but derogatory to the Titan of Yorubaland.”
Reacting the 48-hour ultimatum the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare in a statement posted on Tuesday said the monarch had directed him not to engage on the matter.
“My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Babasala. I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press. We cannot dignify the undignifyable with an official response,” Olafare wrote.
The spokesperson added that the Ooni preferred to allow public opinion to take its course, rather than escalate the disagreement between the two traditional rulers.
“We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated. Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us,” the statement read.