“The conferment of chieftaincy title which borders on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is not only an affront to the referred institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland…”
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, demanding the revocation of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on businessman Dotun Sanusi, also known as Ilaji.
In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said the Ooni’s action amounted to an affront on his authority and contravened a Supreme Court ruling. He maintained that only the Alaafin has the exclusive right to confer titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
“The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo and the Titan of Yorubaland, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has been drawn to the purported conferment of chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a business tycoon, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi,” the statement read.
“The conferment of chieftaincy title which borders on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife is not only an affront to the referred institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland, and on whom holds exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.”
The Alaafin further stated that the Ooni’s instrument of office limits his authority to Oranmiyan Local Government, now divided into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South.
He warned that failure to revoke the title within 48 hours would attract consequences.