The Olukosi of Ilukosi-Ijesa, HRM Oba Omotooyosi Bayo M.Akinleye, has said the authority of the Alaafin of Oyo ends in Oyo.

Oba Akinyele said this amid a controversy between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The issue started after the Ooni conferred the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on one Jubril Dotun Sanusi from Ibadan.

Reacting, the Alaafin said the conferment of such a title solely lies with him, just as he issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to reverse his decision.

A statement from his palace reads, “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 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 Ooni of Ife is behaving as if there is no authority to check and call him to order and because of that ‘above the law’ syndrome of his, he is in the habit of walking on everybody’s’ back including the apex court in the country, the Supreme Court, which had ruled on the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin to confer chieftaincy title that covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone."

He added, "The instrument of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi, during his installation, specifically limits his traditional area of authority to Oranmiyan Local Government, which has now been split into three Local Governments, viz: Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South.

”The dictum that nobody is above the law of the land is now being put to a crucial test and the reality of our time makes it very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engineer Dotun Sanusi within 48 HOURS or face the consequences.”

Reacting, Oba Akinleye made a case for why the Ooni of Ife could confer the chieftaincy title on Jubril regardless of what the Alaafin thinks.

He shared on X, 'Alaafin authority ends on Oyo land. Owa Obokun authority ends on Ijesa land. Awujale authority ends on Ijebu land. Alake authority ends on Egba land.

"No child is older than who father them, we are all children of Oodua, and Ooni is sitting on our father’s Throne."

ASA