NIGERIA: The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has taken a strong swipe at the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Dotun Sanusi, the Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as a challenge to his authority, insisting that the exclusive right to confer titles that extend across Yorubaland rests solely with the Alaafin.
He accused the Ooni of consistently overstepping his bounds, acting beyond his traditional jurisdiction, and disregarding a Supreme Court ruling which affirmed Alaafin’s exclusive powers in such matters, reports Nigerian Tribune.
The Alaafin stressed that the Ooni’s instrument of office confines his authority to Oranmiyan Local Government, which has since been divided into Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South.
He therefore demanded the revocation of the title within 48 hours, warning that failure to comply would attract consequences.
He recalled his unity tour across Yorubaland where he emphasised that the peace and unity of the region remain the foundation for meaningful and sustainable development.
According to him, unity had always been the desire of the forefathers and should remain a priority for all Yoruba leaders.
Alaafin Owoade added that his peace initiatives should not be mistaken for weakness, describing the Ooni’s decision as unlawful and derogatory to the authority of the Titan of Yorubaland.
The statement reads partly, “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 bothers 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 who hold 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 title that covers 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.
”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.”
However, all possible attempts by our correspondent to get reactions from the Ooni of Ife proved abortive as his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, did not pick calls or respond to text messages as of the time of filing this report.
