Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland, while some people are wasting time fighting for supremacy that doesn’t even exist
The ongoing tension between two foremost Yoruba traditional institutions took another turn as the spokesperson for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Mr. Moses Olafare, reacted strongly to the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I.
The rift stemmed from the Ooni’s decision to bestow the prestigious “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” title on a prominent businessman and philanthropist, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, who is the Chairman of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort. The title, described as a pan-Yoruba honour, immediately sparked controversy.
Oba Abimbola Owoade openly faulted the conferment, declaring that the Ooni had overstepped his traditional authority.
According to him, the act was ultra vires—beyond the Ooni’s jurisdiction—and an affront to the dignity of the Alaafin’s revered stool, which he described as the true “Titan of Yorubaland.”
Therefore, the Alaafin issued a stern warning, demanding that the title conferred on Sanusi be withdrawn within 48 hours.
He further cautioned that if the Ooni failed to comply, he would be left with no option but to take “necessary and decisive measures” to protect the sanctity and hierarchy of Yoruba tradition.
Alaafin gives Ooni 48-hour ultimatum over Yoruba title
In a fiery response on his social media page, Moses Olafare dismissed the ultimatum as empty and baseless. He insisted that the Ooni was too preoccupied with building legacies and creating opportunities for Yoruba youths to engage in supremacy battles.
“Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland, while some people are wasting time fighting for supremacy that doesn’t even exist.
“Dead Empire! Their 48-hour ultimatum will soon lapse, and we are waiting,” Olafare wrote.
He further disclosed that the Ooni is presently focused on preparations for the groundbreaking and official launch of Ojaja Smart City, Ibadan—a mega project described as the biggest in Africa.
He argued that at such a time of visionary planning, it was unthinkable for the Ooni to bother about what he called “supremacy hullabaloo.”
“Where does this king (Ooni) have time for supremacy squabbles? Issuing a 48-hour ultimatum over a chieftaincy title that does not exist is nothing but an act of desperation,” Olafare concluded.