I am the number one Oba in Yoruba land – Alaafin of Oyo

The monarch made the assertion during an interview with broadcaster Edmund Obilo, where he explained that his position was based on Oyo’s historical contributions to Yoruba civilisation and not an attempt to challenge the authority of other traditional rulers.

Oba Owoade specifically dismissed suggestions that he was engaged in a supremacy contest with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, stressing that he had no intention of competing with his counterparts.

“Historically, yes. If you want to go by history and the contribution of Oyo to Yoruba civilisation, then I would say that the Alaafin is number one,” he said.

He further stressed that his priority was the development of Oyo and the collective progress of the Yoruba people, rather than disputes over traditional hierarchy.

“I don’t fight for supremacy or whatever with anybody,” the monarch stated.

According to him, the advancement of Oyo would bring honour to the entire Yoruba race, adding that he regularly commits the progress of the people to prayer.

“I believe that when Oyo succeeds, the Yoruba in their entirety get honoured. That’s my belief,” he said.

The Alaafin’s remarks come amid previous tensions between the Oyo and Ife traditional institutions over the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Ibadan businessman Dotun Sanusi by the Ooni in August last year.

Following the conferment, Oba Owoade reportedly gave the Ooni 48 hours to revoke the title, questioning his authority to award a pan-Yoruba chieftaincy title beyond his recognised jurisdiction.

The Alaafin argued that the Ooni’s instrument of office restricted his authority to three local government areas in Osun State. He also alleged that the conferment was unlawful and contravened a Supreme Court ruling, warning that there would be unspecified consequences if the title was not withdrawn.

However, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, indicated that the palace would not issue a formal response to the warning, saying he had been directed by his principal to disregard it.

In a Facebook post, Olafare described the Alaafin’s warning as an “empty threat”, adding that the palace would leave the matter to public opinion.

“My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat. I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press,” he wrote.

He further stated: “We cannot dignify the undignifiable with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated.”