[Sticky] 48 Hours My Foot Ooni Of Ife’s Spokesperson Reacts To Alaafin’s Threat

Ooni of Ife vs Alaafin of Oyo supremacy clash reignites as the 48-hour ultimatum sparks heated reactions across Yorubaland.

Fresh tension is unfolding in Yorubaland as the long-standing rivalry between two of its most revered monarchs — the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade — takes a new and dramatic turn. The conflict stems from a chieftaincy title recently conferred by the Ooni, which has triggered a strong response from the Alaafin’s palace.

The Source of the Dispute

The Ooni of Ife had recently honoured Ibadan-based businessman and philanthropist, Chief Dotun Sanusi, with the title of “Okanlomo of Yorubaland.” Sanusi, the owner of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, is widely recognized for his investments and contributions to development in Oyo State and beyond.

However, this decision did not sit well with the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, who was crowned in January 2025 as the 46th Alaafin. In a strongly worded statement, the Alaafin accused the Ooni of overstepping his bounds and issued a 48-hour ultimatum, demanding that the title be revoked.

Alaafin’s Position

The Alaafin maintained that, by Yoruba tradition and history, only the Alaafin of Oyo possesses the exclusive authority to bestow chieftaincy titles with a pan-Yoruba reach. He described the Ooni’s act as an “affront” and a breach of Yoruba custom. His office even cited a Supreme Court ruling and the Ooni’s instrument of office, which allegedly restricts the Ooni’s jurisdiction to Ife and its environs.

Ooni’s Camp Responds

But the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat.” In a post shared via his Facebook handle, Olafare said his principal had instructed against issuing any formal press release on the matter. Instead, he noted that the issue would be left for the “public court of opinion.”

“My Principal has directed me against issuing a Press Release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala. I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press,” Olafare wrote. He further quipped, “48 Hours My Foot!” — a statement now making waves across Yoruba social and political circles.

A Rivalry Renewed

The Ooni and Alaafin represent two of the most powerful traditional stools in Yorubaland, with centuries of history behind their institutions. This latest clash has revived debates about Yoruba leadership, supremacy, and the delicate balance of power between the two thrones. While many traditionalists side with the Alaafin’s historical claims, others argue that the Ooni’s role as custodian of Yoruba spiritual heritage grants him wide influence.

For now, it remains to be seen whether this battle of words will escalate into a larger institutional rift or simply fizzle out in the court of public opinion. What is certain, however, is that the rivalry between Ile-Ife and Oyo has once again taken center stage in Yoruba affairs.