“Royal Rift Deepens: Ooni Ignores Alaafin’s Ultimatum In Chieftaincy Feud”

Ooni of Ife Dismisses Alaafin’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Chieftaincy Title Dispute

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has opted not to respond officially to a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, regarding the recent conferment of a chieftaincy title.

The Alaafin had demanded that the Ooni revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title bestowed on businessman Dotun Sanusi, insisting that the Ooni lacked the jurisdiction to confer a title encompassing the entire Yorubaland.

According to IReporter Online, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, revealed in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the monarch had instructed him to ignore the ultimatum, describing it as an “empty threat.”

“We cannot dignify the undignifyable with an official response.

We leave the matter to the public court of opinion,” Olafare wrote.

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“Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than those capable of dividing us, 48 Hours My Foot!”

The clash between the two traditional rulers signals rising tension over the boundaries of their ceremonial and historical authority.

According to IReporter Online, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, released a statement on Monday insisting that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive right to grant titles that cover all of Yorubaland.

He claimed the Ooni’s authority is limited to the Ife region, particularly the former Oranmiyan Local Government Area, now divided into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South.

“The conferment of a pan-Yorubaland title by the Ooni is not only an affront to the Alaafin, the Titan of Yorubaland, but also a violation of his exclusive prerogative,” the statement read.

The Alaafin threatened that failure to withdraw the title within 48 hours would attract unspecified consequences, though he did not elaborate on what those might be.

According to IReporter Online, this is not the first time the traditional powerhouses have disagreed over territorial and cultural claims—an issue that continues to stir public debate about the extent of their respective authorities in modern Yoruba leadership.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”