A former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and renowned Ifa scholar/Awise Agbaye, Prof. Wande Abimbola, has said that there is no need for conflict between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
He appealed for calm over the feud between the monarch concerning the installation of Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi, as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
‘The Punch’ quoted Abimbola as saying:
“I won’t assign blame in the media—elders don’t do that,” he said. “There’s no need for conflict. Often, it’s third parties—those who stand to gain—who stoke these misunderstandings. Awon alagbata ni won so oja di owon (It is the middlemen who make goods expensive).”
Shedding light on his next steps, Abimbola revealed that plans are underway to convene a high-level meeting of Yoruba traditional rulers and elders to resolve the impasse.
“We, the Yoruba elders, will collectively deliberate and resolve the matter,” he explained. “We’ll ensure participation from each of the six Yoruba-speaking states, as well as Kwara. We will pick an oba from each of these states. I’ll personally attend the meeting with a lawyer. Together, we’ll examine the issue and seek an amicable resolution. Our obas are fathers to us all, they must not be seen quarrelling.”
The fresh row began on Monday after the Alaafin faulted the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi.
The Ooni had bestowed the title on Sanusi during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan, over the weekend.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin declared that no traditional ruler other than him has the authority to confer a title covering the entire Yorubaland. He issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”
“We can not dignify the ‘undignifyable’ with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated.
“Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No press release, please. 48 hours my foot!” he wrote.
