The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has opted not to respond to the 48 hours ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, regarding the controversial conferment of a pan-Yoruba chieftaincy title.
The dispute stems from the Ooni’s recent bestowal of the title Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Chief Dotun Sanusi, a prominent Ibadan-based businessman and owner of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts.
The Alaafin, in a worded statement on Monday, condemned the move as a violation of Yoruba tradition and an encroachment on his exclusive authority to grant titles with jurisdiction across Yorubaland.
According to the statement, the Supreme Court has affirmed that only the Alaafin holds the legal and cultural mandate to confer such titles.
The statement described the Ooni’s action as an “affront” and demanded an immediate revocation.
In a terse response posted on Facebook, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” stating that Oba Ogunwusi had instructed him not to issue any formal press release on the matter.
He further urged a shift toward unity.
“My Principal has directed me against issuing a Press Release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala.
“I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press,” Olafare wrote, adding that the matter would be handled in the “public court of opinion.”
Olafare further stated, “Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No Press Release please (sic) 48 Hours My Foot!!!”
This latest exchange underscores the enduring rivalry between the two royal fathers, rooted in centuries of contest over supremacy and territorial influence within Yorubaland.
Since ascending the throne in January 2025 as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Owoade has consistently asserted his claim to the exclusive right to confer pan-Yoruba titles—a stance he says is backed by legal precedent and traditional instruments of office that limit the Ooni’s authority to the Ife region.
