Ooni/Alafin Crisis: Salu of Edunabon Reacts to Alaafin Threat over Chieftaincy Title

By Olawale Olalekan

The Salu of Edunabon, Oba Adesoji Kehinde Oladepo, Akinrinsa 11, has spoken Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade1, on the 48-hours ultimatum given to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, to withdraw the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, bestowed on Engr. Dotun Sanusi (Ilaji).

Oba Oladepo made the disclosure while reacting to the statement credited to Alaafin of Oyo, on the conferment chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, on Engr. Dotun Sanusi(Ilaji).

He said that the chieftaincy title has not been conferred on anybody till date despite the fact that Ooni of Ife has the capacity to do so.

Salu of Edunabon admonished Alaafin of Oyo to always verify his facts before responding to any issues no matter the content.

Oba Oladepo said that in Royal setting in Nigeria, the three Royal Fathers that were known to be Co-Chairmen are: Sultan of Sokoto; Obi of Onitsha and Ooni of Ife.

Salu asked Alaafin numerous questions which need to be answered such as:
where was Alaafin in the setting when Ooni was mediating among traditional rulers in Yorubaland for peace and unity?

Where was Alaafin when President Bola Hammed Tinubu had a meeting with top traditional rulers in the country?

He stated further that it was totally absurd for Alaafin to have reduced the authority of Ooni to Ifeland alone.

He asked that is it only Oyo town that comprises Oyo Alaafin, where we see: Awe, Afijio, Fiditi, though he has no consenting authority over the towns mentioned?

Oba Oladepo charged Alaafin Owoade to learn about the historical background and desist from adulterated history either from him or his sponsors.

The authority of any king emanated from their eulogy like Alaafin of Oyo means his role has supremacy in Oyo township alone.

Alaafin is not a concenting authority to Awe, Fiditi, Afijio among other towns in Oyo.

Oba Oladapo noted that his response was sequel to the outburst from Alaafin that his Ooni supremacy is mainly Ireland which he said his town Edunabon was among the town in Ifeland mentioned by Oba Owoade.

“The following are the traditional rulers to whom crowns have been given by the Ooni of Ife: the Alake of Abeokuta, the Olowu of Owu (Abeokuta), the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba Ado, the Osemawe of Ondo, the Awujale of Ode (Ijebu), the Alara of Ara, the Ajero of Ijero.

“Others were: the Orangun of IIa, the Owa of Ilesa, the Alaye of Efon, the Ore of Olure, the Akarigbo of Remo (Ijebu), the Alaketu of Ketu, the Elekole of Ikole, the Olowo of Owo, the Ewi of Ado, the Oloko of Oko (Abeokuta) the Alagura of Agura (Abeokuta)”, Oba Oladapo declared.