The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has described the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as a monarch who thinks he is above the law.
Oba Owoade said this as he cautioned the Ooni against issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the revocation of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title recently conferred on Ibadan-born business mogul, Dotun Sanusi.
In a statement signed by his director of media and publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said: “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.”
He described the Ooni’s action as an affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, noting that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive authority to confer titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
He therefore urged the Ooni to withdraw the ultimatum and refrain from actions capable of stirring unnecessary conflict among Yoruba traditional institutions.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo and Oba 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 borders on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is an affront to the referred institution of the Alaafin who is the Titan of Yorubaland and on who holds exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
“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
“It is a statement of fact that during Alaafin’s unity tour to Yoruba monarchs, he reiterated his message that there could not be development without unity.
“Oba Owoade had told the gathering that: ‘It is the joy of our forefathers for us to be in unity and they did their part in ensuring peace and unity in Yorubaland; we must also strive to achieve this. God Himself is involved in our matter therefore we must always, at all times, be concerned about the peace and unity of Yorubaland. We say we want development, but no meaningful and sustainable development will come without peace and unity.
“But, it seems the Ooni of Ife is misconceiving the Alaafin, Paramount with the heart of gold, and his peace initiative, as as the symbol of his humility, hence taking decisions that are not only ultra vires, but derogatory to the Titan of Yorubaland.”
