The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had conferred a honorific title, the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”, on an Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
But the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, took offence, claiming he was the only authority — by law — allowed to confer Yoruba-wide titles, and threatening Armageddon, if the Ooni did not reverse himself within two days!
The making of a royal banger!
Okay, even among the royals, a tiff is not unexpected, though its regularity might be far between. Royals were first human, before a feudal system lofted them above fellow creatures. Still, must royal tiffs be so base, be so crude, be so uncouth, from both sides? Frankly, the exchanges, between the Oyo and Ife courts, are rather forgettable!
By Yoruba sacred myth, Ife is the spiritual fount of Yorubaland — what the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, coined the “Source”, in the bruising royal politics of his day.
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Oyo, on the other hand, was the imperial capital, on account of the then fashionable crime of empire building. Pray, how can sacking, maiming and killing a captive people — fellow Yoruba and other folks — be a blessing to anyone, including the cruel imperial power?
So, by myth and brazen power, both Ife and Oyo have a special place in Yoruba history. Which is why you’d expect whatever emanates from either court not to be disagreeable, even if both violently disagree. But the toxin issuing from both courts, over the “Okanlomo” matter is, to say the least, disgraceful.
The Oyo opening salvo: “… It is very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland Chieftaincy title conferred on Engr. Dotun Sanusi with 48 HOURS (capitals his) or face the consequences.” Crude.
The Ife riposte: “My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Baba Sala” the Ooni’s spokesperson dismissed the threat from the Oyo court as comic relief: as Moses Olaiya, the iconic Baba Sala and late ace Yoruba rib-cracking comedian, provided. Rude.
After everything, the whole huff was needless. Sanusi just said his Chieftaincy was “Okanlomo Oodua”, not “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”! Idle tiff?
Even then, “Okanlomo” is honorific, not a core traditional title. “…of Yorubaland” is also farcical. If the Ijebu were never under the yoke of Oyo, even at the climax of its imperial powers, and the Ijebu are part of Yorubaland, then it’s common logic that the Alaafin couldn’t validly confer any pan-Yoruba title, beyond Oyo’s immediate vanity, and definitely not outside its old imperial boundaries.
Let these two monarchs get busy with serious things. The Okanlomo feuding should be infra dig to their majestic dignities, though the Alaafin would appear more blame-worthy, for opening the front with a vain-glorious attack. Enough!
