Game of Thrones: How the Fathers of Today’s Ooni and Alaafin Sparked Royal Feud That Still Echoes
- A fierce royal dispute erupted in Yorubaland as the Ooni of Ife reportedly defied a government directive and pressed ahead with a controversial chieftaincy title ceremony
- Tensions escalated between Oba Sijuwade and the Alaafin of Oyo, with both monarchs exchanging sharp rebukes over traditional authority and historical legitimacy
- Despite political pressure and public outcry, the Oyo State Government ultimately backed the Ooni’s decision, allowing the ceremony to proceed in Ile-Ife
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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, pressed ahead with the conferment of chieftaincy titles on prominent Nigerians on 9 March 1991, defying a directive from the Oyo State Governor, Colonel Adisa, who had earlier appealed for the ceremony to be suspended pending resolution of a dispute.
The governor had urged all parties involved to withdraw the court case and allow the government to mediate the issue amicably.
Source: Twitter
Despite the appeal, a press statement from the Ooni’s palace, issued barely three hours after the governor’s directive, confirmed that Chief Tom Ikimi would be conferred with the title of Akinrogun of Ife.
The statement, signed by Chief S. F. Omisakin, the Ooni’s second-in-command, stated that the letter sent to Ikimi read: “Akinrogun from the source (Ile-Ife).” Omisakin questioned the legitimacy of the Alaafin of Oyo’s version of the title, saying, “It should be clearly understood that Alaafin was just bringing personal animosity of a wounded lion into an issue that is outside his domain.”
Oyo state government endorses Ooni’s authority
Later that day, the Oyo State Government clarified its stance, granting the Ooni of Ife the go-ahead to confer the title. In a press release, Mr. Simbo Abioye, Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, stated that the government had no intention of interfering in the conferment of chieftaincy titles, provided they remained within the Ooni’s domain.
“The state government has no intention to interfere in the conferment of chieftaincy titles on prominent individuals by traditional rulers,” the statement read.
Colonel Adisa, during a previous address to the Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs, had described the crises surrounding succession to vacant stools in the state as “shameful” and noted that the chairmanship tussle “left much to be desired.”
Ooni asserts power to dethrone Alaafin
During the ceremony, Oba Sijuwade made a bold declaration, asserting his authority over the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
In a three-paragraph speech, the Ooni claimed:
“The government of Oyo State may not know that the crown on the Alaafin of Oyo’s head which qualifies him to be a traditional ruler, was given to him by the Ooni of Ife and you may not know that I can withdraw his crown and he will become an ordinary citizen of this country by evoking the special power conferred on me at the temple of Oduduwa.”
The Ooni further stated that his power to create traditional rulership was “universal and unique,” citing Federal Government Gazettes as evidence. He dismissed the Alaafin’s protest letter as untenable and reiterated that his authority to issue crowns surpassed the granting of chieftaincy titles.
Oba Sijuwade emphasised the integrity of the conferment process, saying, “We do not sell chieftaincy titles here and we do not demand gratification for whatever we do here and we will continue to maintain this tradition, which has been in existence for over 2,000 solid years.”
Alaafin responds with fierce rebuttal
Oba Adeyemi responded swiftly, challenging the Ooni to carry out his threat within 48 hours. He described the statement as “blasphemy of the year,” asserting, “Certainly 1,000 Oonis put together cannot dethrone the Alaafin.” He accused Oba Sijuwade of equating himself with God and warned that he would be compelled to reveal historical truths if provoked further.
“It pleased God, the king of kings, the wish and determination of my people and well-meaning Nigerians to put me on the throne of my forefathers and it is to him, Allah that all powers and authority lie,” the Alaafin declared.
In a 10-page rejoinder, Oba Adeyemi condemned the Ooni’s remarks as a consistent disregard for historical facts and dismissed the notion of Oduduwa’s temple as “imaginary,” stating that “paganism is a thing of the past in the palace of Alaafin of Oyo.”
Prominent Nigerians honoured despite controversy
The ceremony proceeded as planned at the palace grounds in Ile-Ife, with the Ooni conferring honorary titles on several distinguished Nigerians.
Among the honourees were Chief Tom Ikimi, a respected architect and politician; Mrs Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, a medical doctor and daughter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo; and Chief Tola Adeniyi, a director general in the presidency.
Mr. Funmilola Olorunnisola, the Ooni’s Public Relations Manager, confirmed the event’s schedule, stating, “The chieftaincy title ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 9th March 1991, at the palace grounds in Ile-Ife will be held as planned.”
The unfolding drama between two of Yorubaland’s most revered monarchs has reignited debates over traditional authority, historical legitimacy, and the boundaries of royal influence in Nigeria’s cultural landscape.
Ooni of Ife ignores Alaafin’s 48-hour ultimatum
Legit.ng earlier reported that Moses Olafare, the spokesperson for Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has explained the reasons why the monarch will not react to the 48-hour threat by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, to reverse the title conferred on a popular Ibadan-based business mogul, Dotun Sanusi.
Olafare, in a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, August 19, disclosed that Oba Ogunwusi had particularly directed him to ignore the revered Oyo monarch.
Source: Legit.ng
