The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, demanding the revocation of the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland recently conferred on Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi, popularly known as Ilaji.
In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as unlawful and an affront to his authority, insisting that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to bestow titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
Oba Owoade alleged that the Ooni acted outside his traditional jurisdiction and in disregard of a Supreme Court judgment, which he said affirmed the Alaafin’s sole prerogative in matters concerning chieftaincy titles with pan-Yoruba significance.
“The conferment of any chieftaincy title which borders 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, but also a disregard for the Supreme Court, which had ruled on this matter,” the statement read.
The Alaafin further stressed that the Ooni’s instrument of office restricts his traditional powers to the Ife area—specifically Oranmiyan Local Government, now divided into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South. He therefore declared the title null and void.
He warned that failure by the Ooni to revoke the title within 48 hours would attract “dire consequences,” cautioning that his peace efforts should not be mistaken for weakness.
