Alaafin Slams Ooni of Ife, Accuses Him of Defying Authority, Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Monday to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, demanding the revocation of a chieftaincy title bestowed upon businessman Dotun Sanusi.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch asserted that the Ooni lacks the exclusive right to confer the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on the businessman.

He fumed that the Ooni’s action challenged his authority, adding that the exclusive right to confer titles that extend across Yorubaland rests solely with the Alaafin.

He explained that the Ooni’s instrument of office confines his authority to the Oranmiyan Local Government, which has since been divided into Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South.

Owoade, therefore, demanded the revocation of the title within 48 hours, warning that failure to comply would attract consequences.

The monarch 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.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo and the Titan of Yorubaland, Oba 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 Ogunwusi.

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“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 whom holds 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 Sanusi within 48 hours or face the consequences.”