The centuries-old rivalry between the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, the two most prominent monarchs in Yorubaland, has been reignited, escalating into a fresh conflict over the recent conferment of the "Okanlomo of Yorubaland" chieftaincy title.
The current rift began when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, conferred the title on Ibadan-based business mogul, Chief Dotun Sanusi. In a swift and fiery reaction, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, demanded the immediate revocation of the title, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum.
The Alaafin's palace, in a statement, asserted that the exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title covering the entirety of Yorubaland belongs solely to the Alaafin. The statement cited a purported Supreme Court ruling and the Ooni's instrument of office, which it claims limits his traditional authority to his immediate domain.
The Ooni's palace has since dismissed the Alaafin's ultimatum as "empty," choosing to ignore the directive and leaving the matter to the court of public opinion. This latest confrontation is a familiar episode in the long-standing "supremacy" battle between the two ancient thrones, a feud that has often simmered beneath the surface and, at times, boiled over.
Roots of the Rivalry
The friction between the two stools is not new; it is a continuation of the political rivalry that characterized the relationship between their predecessors, the late Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and the late Ooni Oba Okunade Sijuwade. In the early 1990s, the monarchs clashed over a similar Yoruba-wide title, with both parties issuing threats and counter-threats in a dispute that drew national attention.
The root of this persistent rivalry lies in the historical and cultural significance of their respective thrones. According to Yoruba folklore and history, Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yoruba people, the sacred land where their progenitor, Oduduwa, first descended. Consequently, the Ooni of Ife, as the spiritual head and custodian of this heritage, is regarded by many as the paramount traditional ruler.
Conversely, the Alaafin of Oyo's claim to preeminence is rooted in the political and military might of the old Oyo Empire. At its zenith, the Oyo Empire was a formidable political entity that extended its influence across a vast territory, including present-day Yorubaland and parts of modern-day Togo and Benin Republic. It is from this history of imperial dominance that the Alaafin asserts his right to confer titles of pan-Yoruba significance.
The title "Okanlomo of Yorubaland" itself, meaning "the one who is dear to the hearts of all Yorubas," is at the center of this clash. While a traditional ruler can confer a title like "Okanlomo" within their specific town or kingdom, its extension to "of Yorubaland" is what has become a point of contention and a symbol of the competing claims of authority.
