Fresh indications have emerged that the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, is preparing to make public a Supreme Court judgment which it says affirms the monarch’s exclusive right to confer chieftaincy titles covering the entire Yorubaland.
Palace insiders say the ruling may be released in the coming days as tensions deepen between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, over the controversial conferment of the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” title on Ibadan businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi.
The development follows a series of strategy meetings convened by Oba Owoade with his chiefs in Oyo town on Wednesday to determine the next line of action.
Earlier in the week, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni, demanding the revocation of Sanusi’s title. He argued that the Supreme Court had already ruled that only the Alaafin reserves the authority to bestow chieftaincy titles with a Yorubaland-wide designation.
The palace also accused the Ooni of exceeding his jurisdiction, stressing that his traditional authority is restricted to the boundaries of the former Oranmiyan Local Government Area, now divided into Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South.
With the ultimatum expiring on Wednesday, sources suggested that unveiling the apex court ruling is now seen by the Alaafin as a necessary step to reinforce his claim as the paramount custodian of Yoruba tradition and authority.
