The spokesperson for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has dismissed the ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, regarding a recent chieftaincy title conferred by the Ooni.
The controversy began after the Alaafin gave a 48-hour deadline for the Ooni to withdraw the title of Oluomo of Yorubaland, which was bestowed on a business mogul. In response, the Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, took to social media to describe the ultimatum as “an empty threat from a dead empire.”
Olafare argued that the Ooni is more concerned with youth empowerment and job creation than engaging in supremacy disputes among traditional institutions. He pointed to ongoing projects, including the planned Ojaja Smart City in Ibadan, which he described as the biggest of its kind in Africa.
“Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland; they are busy fighting supremacy that doesn’t exist. Dead Empire!” Olafare wrote. “Their 48-hour ultimatum will soon lapse. We are waiting. Dead Empire!!!”
He further questioned the relevance of the ultimatum, insisting that the disputed chieftaincy title “doesn’t even exist.”
What you should know
The Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo are two of the most influential monarchs in Yorubaland, with a long history of cultural and political significance.
Their relationship has often been watched closely by Yoruba communities, as rivalries or disagreements between them tend to spark wider debates about tradition, power, and identity in southwestern Nigeria.
