Royal Rumble: Ooni’s Palace Mocks Alaafin’s 48-Hour Ultimatum as a “Joke”
Meta Description: A royal clash escalates in Yorubaland as the Alaafin of Oyo gives the Ooni of Ife a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke a chieftaincy title. See the Ooni’s camp’s fiery and dismissive response.
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A Royal Showdown Erupts Between Two of Yorubaland’s Most Powerful Monarchs
ILE-IFE, NIGERIA – A major feud has erupted between two of Nigeria’s most revered traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade. The dispute, which centers on the conferment of a pan-Yoruba chieftaincy title, has escalated into a war of words, with the Alaafin issuing a stern 48-hour ultimatum, which the Ooni’s palace has contemptuously dismissed as the work of “jokers.”
The conflict was ignited after the Ooni of Ife bestowed the title of “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” on prominent Ibadan-based businessman, Engineer Dotun Sanusi. The move has drawn the ire of the Alaafin, who claims the exclusive right to grant such titles.
The Alaafin’s Ultimatum: A Line Drawn in the Sand
In a fiery statement released by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin of Oyo condemned the Ooni’s action as a direct “affront” to his throne. The Alaafin’s camp argues that he is the “Titan of Yorubaland” and the only monarch with the authority to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yoruba nation.
The statement accused the Ooni of acting with an “above the law syndrome” and cited an alleged Supreme Court ruling that supposedly grants the Alaafin exclusive rights in such matters. It went further to claim the Ooni’s traditional authority is limited only to the Ife region in Osun State.
The threat was unambiguous and severe:
“The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is now being put to a crucial test… it is 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… WITHIN 48 HOURS or face the consequences,” the statement warned.
“48 Hours My Foot”: The Ooni’s Palace Fires Back with Mockery
Rather than showing concern, the Ooni’s palace has responded with open mockery and disdain. Reacting on his social media page on Tuesday, the Ooni’s official spokesperson, Moses Olafare, made it clear that no official response would be issued to what he described as an “empty threat.”
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In a clear sign of his contempt, Olafare referred to the Alaafin’s camp as “Alawada Babasala,” a reference to a famous late Yoruba comedian, implying their threat is a joke.
He wrote that his principal, the Ooni, had directed him not to dignify the ultimatum with a formal press release.
This modern, social-media-driven response is a deliberate strategy to show that the Ooni’s palace does not take the Alaafin’s threat seriously and views it as a matter for public debate rather than a legitimate royal challenge.
The Heart of the Matter: A Centuries-Old Rivalry
This public clash is the latest chapter in a long-standing historical rivalry between the thrones of Ife and Oyo. The Ooni of Ife is regarded as the Arole Oduduwa, the spiritual head of the Yoruba race, with his throne in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba people. The Alaafin of Oyo, on the other hand, historically wielded immense political and military power as the head of the formidable Oyo Empire.
For centuries, the debate over who holds ultimate supremacy has simmered. This latest confrontation over a chieftaincy title has brought the deep-seated rivalry roaring back into the public eye.
As the 48-hour clock ticks down, the public is watching with bated breath to see what “consequences” the Alaafin plans to unleash and how the Ooni will navigate this royal showdown. One thing is certain: this battle for honor and authority has put the unity of the Yoruba traditional council to a crucial test.
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