The Salu of Edunabon, Oba Adesoji Kehinde Oladepo, Akinrinsa II, has faulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, over the 48-hour ultimatum reportedly given to the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, demanding the withdrawal of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engr. Dotun Sanusi, Ilaji.
Reacting to the development, Oba Oladepo described the statement credited to the Alaafin as misplaced and lacking factual basis. He explained that contrary to insinuations, the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland has not been formally conferred on anyone, even though the Ooni reserves the authority to do so.
He therefore cautioned the Alaafin to always verify facts before reacting to sensitive matters, especially those concerning traditional institutions.
The Salu of Edunabon further emphasised that in Nigeria’s royal hierarchy only three traditional rulers are recognised as co-chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria. These, he said, are the Sultan of Sokoto, the Obi of Onitsha and the Ooni of Ife.
He then raised questions for the Alaafin, asking where he was when the Ooni mediated peace among Yoruba monarchs in the interest of unity and where he was when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held strategic meetings with frontline traditional rulers across the country.
Oba Oladepo described it as totally absurd for the Alaafin to attempt to restrict the Ooni’s influence to Ifeland alone. According to him, even in Oyo, Oba Owoade cannot claim absolute authority over neighbouring towns such as Awe, Afijio and Fiditi.
He charged the Alaafin to acquaint himself with Yoruba history and refrain from what he termed adulterated narratives. He stressed that the authority of any monarch derives from history and eulogy, noting that while the Alaafin’s title gives him prominence within Oyo town, he has no consenting power over adjoining towns.
The Salu explained that his intervention became necessary because his community, Edunabon, was among the towns mentioned when the Alaafin reportedly claimed that the Ooni’s supremacy was limited to Ifeland.
Recalling Yoruba royal history, Oba Oladepo highlighted that the Ooni of Ife had historically granted crowns to many first-class rulers across Yorubaland and beyond. These include the Alake of Abeokuta, the Olowu of Owu in Abeokuta, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Ado, the Osemawe of Ondo, the Awujale of Ijebu Ode, the Alara of Ara, the Ajero of Ijero, the Orangun of Ila and the Owa of Ilesa.
He further noted that the Alaye of Efon, the Ore of Otun, the Akarigbo of Remo, the Alaketu of Ketu, the Elekole of Ikole, the Olowo of Owo, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the Oloko of Oko in Abeokuta and the Agura of Agura in Abeokuta also received their crowns from the Ooni of Ife.
Oba Oladepo concluded that these historical precedents clearly underscore the Ooni’s preeminent status as the source of Yoruba monarchy, a role that cannot be diminished or questioned.