The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has rejected a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, demanding the reversal of a chieftaincy title recently conferred on Ibadan-based businessman and hotelier, Chief Dotun Sanusi.
Sanusi, the owner of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, was honoured with the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland by the Ooni, a move that has triggered a heated row between two of the most influential thrones in Yorubaland.
The Alaafin, who ascended the throne in January 2025, had accused the Ooni of overstepping his bounds. Through his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade argued that only the Alaafin possesses the authority to bestow titles covering the entire Yoruba nation. He also cited a Supreme Court judgment and the Ooni’s instrument of office, which, he claimed, limit the Ife monarch’s powers to Ile-Ife.
But in a sharp response, the Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as “an empty threat.” Writing on Facebook, Olafare said his principal would not issue any formal statement on the matter.
“48 hours my foot! This is nothing but an empty threat. The matter will be settled in the public court of opinion, not through ultimatums,” he wrote.
Despite the fiery exchange, the Ooni’s palace called for calm, urging Yoruba people to prioritise peace and unity. “Let’s promote what unites us instead of what divides us,” Olafare added.
