The Traffic

Alaafin of Oyo Refutes Supremacy Clash with Ooni, Cites History and Colonial Recognition of His Throne

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed reports suggesting a supremacy battle with any Yoruba monarch, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

In a statement issued in Ibadan by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin clarified that his recent objections to the Ooni’s conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on businessman Dotun Sanusi were not rooted in rivalry, but in tradition and law.

The Alaafin had earlier given a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni revoke the title, arguing that only the Alaafin of Oyo possesses the exclusive right to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland. He also accused the Ooni of overstepping traditional boundaries and flouting a Supreme Court judgment affirming this prerogative.

But in the latest clarification, Oba Owoade maintained that he has no interest in personality clashes or supremacy contests. Instead, he positioned himself as a custodian of Yoruba heritage bound by history, law, and ancestral responsibility.

“Why should Alaafin get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, in Yorubaland or anywhere else in the universe?” the monarch asked rhetorically, quoting the words of Alexander Graham Bell to illustrate his philosophy of steady, enduring leadership.

The palace described him as a monarch who blends humility with authority, combining modern-day governance with spiritual legitimacy, having been initiated into the mysteries of Yoruba deities such as Ifa and Sango.

The statement also invoked history, noting that Oyo rose to prominence through wealth and military power, becoming the largest West African empire of its time. It added that during the colonial era, the British government formally recognised the Alaafin as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation” during treaty signings, cementing the historical weight of the throne.

“At the sacred grounds of Yoruba shrines, Oba Owoade made a covenant with the ancestors to defend, protect, and elevate Yoruba norms and tradition,” the statement said, stressing his commitment to the welfare and dignity of his people above personal interest.

Ultimately, the Alaafin’s message was clear: his throne derives legitimacy not from competition, but from the enduring authority of history, tradition, and the collective will of the Yoruba people.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna