Yoruba Elders Move to Quell Escalating Feud Between Alaafin and Ooni

Prominent Yoruba elders and leaders have stepped in to douse growing tensions between two foremost monarchs—the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi—following renewed hostilities between their palaces.

Roots of the Dispute

The latest disagreement erupted after the Alaafin faulted the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi during the unveiling of 2geda, a new indigenous social media and business networking platform, in Ibadan.

Through a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin insisted that only he holds authority to bestow titles covering the entire Yorubaland. He consequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”

In response, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum, describing it as undeserving of an official reply. “We cannot dignify the ‘undignifyable’ with an official response. We leave the matter in the court of public opinion,” Olafare said, stressing the need to focus on unity rather than division.

This latest spat follows earlier incidents. In May, a video circulated showing the Alaafin seated while other monarchs stood to greet the Ooni at an event hosted by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. Another clip in June captured the two monarchs avoiding greetings at the West African Economic Summit in Abuja—though both palaces denied a rift.

Calls for Restraint and Mediation

On Tuesday, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, called for calm and revealed he had begun reaching out to Yoruba leaders to mediate. “This is an issue between two fathers,” he said. “We don’t want the unity of Yorubaland to be tampered with. I will personally engage both leaders and ensure the matter is resolved amicably.”

Adams stressed that the feud must not reopen “old wounds,” adding that both cultural and political leaders have a role to play in ensuring reconciliation.

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) also urged restraint. Its Secretary-General, Oladipo Oyewole, called on the governments of Osun and Oyo States to step in urgently. “History must be understood to put this matter in the right perspective. Pending that, the royal fathers must avoid any action that contradicts the Omoluabi ethos,” Oyewole said.

Quiet Moves for Reconciliation

World-renowned Ifa scholar and Awise Agbaye, Prof. Wande Abimbola, appealed for calm while hinting at behind-the-scenes efforts to broker peace.

“I won’t assign blame in the media—elders don’t do that,” he told The PUNCH. “Often, it’s outsiders who stand to gain that fuel these disagreements. Our obas are fathers to us all; they must not be seen quarrelling.”

Abimbola disclosed that plans were underway to convene a high-level meeting of Yoruba elders and traditional rulers, with representatives from all Yoruba-speaking states and Kwara, to seek an amicable resolution.

Other Voices

Meanwhile, the President of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, and the Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, Nurudeen Akinade, criticised the Alaafin’s ultimatum, describing it as “irrational and divisive.” They also urged elders to intervene swiftly to prevent further escalation.