Prominent Yoruba elders and leaders have begun moves to resolve the ongoing rift between two foremost monarchs — the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
The feud erupted on Monday after the Alaafin condemned the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi. The Ooni had given Sanusi the title during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, held at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan, over the weekend.
In a statement released by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin insisted that no other traditional ruler has the authority to bestow a title covering the entire Yorubaland. He went further to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”
Reacting, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, said the monarch had instructed him to ignore the Alaafin’s comments and allow “the court of public opinion” to judge.
Weighing in on the crisis, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, said on Tuesday that he had reached out to Yoruba leaders to mediate. Adams stressed that the matter was sensitive and must be handled carefully to avoid deepening old wounds.
In his words:
“It is an issue between two fathers. I have been calling Yoruba leaders to look for a way to resolve it. We don’t want the unity of Yorubaland to be tampered with now. I will be in touch with the two fathers. Anything that happens between your two fathers, you must look for a way to resolve it amicably. We don’t want to open our old wounds in public.”
Adams further emphasized that unity among Yoruba leaders was crucial and expressed confidence that the impasse between the Alaafin and the Ooni would soon be settled peacefully.
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