Alaafin Threatens Ooni Over Chieftaincy Title

Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo has clashed with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi over a chieftaincy title awarded to businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

The businessman also known as Ilaji, the magazine recalls was recently conferred with the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland by the Ife traditional monarch, a decision that appears not to bode well with the Alaafin, who has protested, and demanded the revocation of the title to Sanusi.

In a statement issued on Monday Oba Owoade’s Director of Media and Publicity gave the Ooni 48 hours to revoke the title to Sanusi, saying he lacked the powers to confer such tile on any one.

According to the Alaafin, who cited a Supreme court judgment, he’s the only traditional ruler in Yorubaland who has the powers and authority to confer such chieftaincy on any worthy person, saying the Ooni overstepped his boundaries.

Oba Owade stated that the Ooni’s authority does not go beyond three local governments in Osun  state; Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South, warning that failure on the part of the Ooni to immediately  revoke the title will be met with severe consequences.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo and the Titan of Yorubaland, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has been drawn to the purported conferment of chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a business tycoon, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

“The conferment of chieftaincy title which borders on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is not only an affront to the referred institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland, and on whom holds 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 title that covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.”

Adding that “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.

”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.”

The magazine reports that the rivalry between the Alaafin and Ooni dates back to the time of their forebears who tried to assert their positions as the foremost traditional rulers in Yorubaland.