Ooni–Alaafin Rift: Ex-Government Aide Says Traditional Rulers’ Powers End at Local Government Level
The ongoing supremacy tussle between two of Yorubaland’s foremost monarchs — the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade — has once again thrown the spotlight on the limits of traditional authority in Nigeria.
The disagreement, which erupted over the conferment of a Yoruba-wide chieftaincy title, has drawn reactions from political figures, legal experts, and cultural stakeholders.
The dispute began after the Ooni of Ife recently conferred the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on prominent Ibadan businessman and philanthropist, Dotun Sanusi.
The Alaafin of Oyo, who described the title conferment as a direct affront to his throne, swiftly condemned the action and issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni revoke the honour.
The Alaafin argued that only the Alaafin stool holds the traditional authority to bestow titles covering the entirety of Yorubaland, a position he claimed was backed by a Supreme Court judgment.
However, the Ooni’s palace has dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” stressing that the monarch acted within his cultural jurisdiction and did not overstep his boundaries.
Amid the escalating war of words, a former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to the late Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Doyin Odebowale, has offered a legal perspective on the issue.
Speaking in a televised interview, Odebowale asserted that many traditional rulers often misinterpret their jurisdiction, noting that by law, their authority does not extend beyond their local government areas.
“Traditional rulers do not have powers that cut across Yorubaland or Nigeria as a whole. Their jurisdiction stops at the level of their local government. That is what the law provides, and this is why disputes like this are unnecessary,” Odebowale explained.
He further highlighted that colonial-era reforms and subsequent state chieftaincy laws redefined the powers of monarchs, restricting them to cultural and advisory roles within their communities. He pointed out that under Oyo State’s chieftaincy framework, only four monarchs are recognized as imperial majesties, yet none of them holds unlimited authority over the entire Yoruba race.
The development has triggered reactions across Yorubaland, with cultural groups, elder statesmen, and political stakeholders calling for restraint from both traditional rulers. Several Yoruba leaders have warned that allowing the supremacy battle to escalate could erode unity and diminish the moral influence of royal stools in the region.
Observers say the rift mirrors centuries-old historical rivalries between Ife and Oyo, two of the most influential power centres in Yoruba history. However, in Nigeria’s present constitutional order, monarchs wield cultural and moral influence rather than political power, and their actions are largely guided by state laws and customary practices.
As the tension continues to generate debate, analysts believe the matter could either be resolved through dialogue and intervention by Yoruba socio-cultural bodies such as Afenifere, or potentially be tested in court if the Alaafin insists on pressing his claim.
For now, the growing calls for peace and unity suggest that stakeholders are eager to prevent the rift from deepening at a time when the Yoruba nation faces pressing challenges in security, economy, and governance.
