Williams Kayode
Tension is brewing in Yorubaland as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has strongly faulted the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for conferring the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
The Ooni bestowed the honour at the weekend during the launch of 2geda, a homegrown social media and business networking platform, held at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan. He praised Sanusi for his contributions to Yoruba cultural and economic advancement.
But the Alaafin, in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, said the Ooni had “overstepped his bounds,” stressing that only the Alaafin reserves the authority to confer titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
“The Ooni of Ife is behaving as if there is no authority to call him to order,” the Alaafin declared, citing a Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his exclusive rights over such titles. He warned that the Ooni must revoke the conferment within 48 hours or “face the consequences.”
Oba Owoade further argued that the Ooni’s traditional jurisdiction is limited to Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South Local Governments. He accused the Ooni of misconstruing his peace-building efforts for weakness.
“Our forefathers strove for unity in Yorubaland. But it seems the Ooni mistakes my peace initiative for weakness, hence taking decisions that are not only ultra vires but derogatory,” the Alaafin added.
Efforts to reach the Ooni’s Palace spokesperson, Moses Olafare, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered at press time.