Alaafin Declares British Treaty Recognition Amid Supremacy Row with Ooni

The supremacy tussle between two foremost Yoruba monarchs, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, took a new turn on Thursday as the Alaafin declared that Britain had formally recognised him as the superior head of the Yoruba Nation through a historic treaty.

The declaration followed renewed tensions sparked by the Ooni’s conferment of the title “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” on Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi, during the unveiling of the 2geda media networking platform at Ilaji Hotel last weekend.

On Monday, the Alaafin, through his Director of Media, Bode Durojaye, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to withdraw the title, warning of unspecified consequences. The deadline expired on Wednesday without response from the Ife monarch.

In a fresh statement on Thursday, the Alaafin’s media aide reiterated that history firmly places Oyo at the centre of Yoruba authority. Quoting the monarch, the statement read: “Oyo rose to prominence through trade and military strength, becoming the largest empire in West Africa. It was the most authoritative of all Yoruba principalities. The British, in line with their practice, signed the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin, recognising him as the superior head of the Yoruba Nation”.

The Alaafin maintained that he has no reason to engage in a supremacy contest with any other Oba. According to him, his covenant with Yoruba ancestors binds him to defend and promote Yoruba tradition, not to diminish it.

The statement further extolled Oba Owoade as custodian of Yoruba culture, noting his reign has been marked by stability, security and prosperity. It also praised his humility, spiritual authority, and ancestral link to Oduduwa’s lineage through Oranmiyan, founder of Oyo.

Meanwhile, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, urged calm among Yoruba sons and daughters, cautioning against divisive media commentary. “The latest controversy over the speculative conferment of Okanlomo is unnecessary. Both Alaafin and Ooni are for peace and unity. There is no supremacy battle” he said, appealing for restraint and respect for both thrones.

In a related development, the socio-cultural group Think Yoruba First (TYF) Ogo Adulawo Association raised concerns over what it described as cultural defamation and distortion of Yoruba history in a recently published academic book.

At a press conference in Ibadan, TYF’s Lead Legal Consultant, Mr. Oluwatobi Sanwo, condemned the claims that non-Yoruba were the original inhabitants of Ile-Ife, dismissing them as “intellectual dishonesty” and “cultural defamation”. He reaffirmed that Ile-Ife remains the undisputed cradle of Yoruba civilisation and urged Yoruba worldwide to unite in defending their heritage against falsified narratives.

Sanwo added that petitions had been submitted to Nigerian and international institutions while calling on the media to uphold Yoruba history with responsibility and accuracy.