The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, on Monday, gave the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title he reportedly conferred on Ibadan business tycoon Dotun Sanusi.
This was contained in a statement by Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Paramount Ruler of Oyo Kingdom.
“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,” the statement said.
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The statement maintained that only the Alaafin has the exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
It 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 bothers on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife, is an affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland and who holds the exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.”
The statement said the apex Court in the country, the Supreme Court, had ruled on the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
“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, – Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South,” it added.
The palace of the Ooni of Ife has not responded to the statement as of the time of this report.