We have watched, in the past few months, an unending supremacy battle among many traditional rulers or Obas in some states in the South West especially Oyo and Osun.
The most serious of this needless rivalry revolves around the Ooni and Alaafin, a detestable development to Yorubaland and its progress.
It would be recalled that there had been age-old supremacy battle between the Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo which several authorities had tried to settle in the past, especially since the Western State had been broken into as many states as five – Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti – between 1967 and 1996.
In modern government, each monarch is supposed to operate within his geographical enclave. Yet, in some cases, the needless rivalry has transcended states, often pitching one Oba against the other even when their domains are separate and not contiguous.
It is, however, detestable that some busybodies or jobless traditional rulers in one state would find it convenient to stoke the fire to curry favour from other kings outside their states.
For instance, it is disdainful to see the current occupier of the stool of Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State deliberately amplifying non-existent dispute between the two young traditional rulers of Ile Ife and Oyo.
Worse still, social media content creators have joined the bandwagon just to attract traffic to their sites and so would create a mountain from a molehill.
The latest of the sad and dangerous episodes was the encounter between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, at a meeting in Abuja, from which mischief makers created a clip to misrepresent the peaceful interaction between the two monarchs.
The two Obas were guests at the West Africa Economic Summit held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday, June 22, 2025.
Contrary to what palace officials recorded as a peaceful interaction throughout the event, social media irritants did otherwise.
This is where the media handlers from either side must be professional in their reports, lest they continue to stoke the fire of discord between the revered kings.
Reports indicated that as soon as the Alaafin entered the VIP waiting room, he proceeded to greet the Ooni who was at the venue him and the former reciprocated the honour accorded him as he rose to welcome his brother traditional ruler.
Both men exchanged pleasantries and few jokes before Alaafin eventually went to take his seat, which he had earlier bypassed alongside his amiable queen.
“When they were both called upon to move into the main hall of the conference centre, it was the Ooni that first left the VIP waiting room, and almost same time followed by the Alaafin to take their respective seats officially tagged in their names inside the hall where the event was ready to be kicked off by the Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” a media aide of the Ile Ife monarch said.
We condemn attempts by mischief makers, no matter how highly placed, to continue to cause disaffection among Yoruba traditional rulers. It is a brazen disregard for traditions, values, and unity.
Perhaps, the Yoruba ethnic group should take a cue from their fellow traditional rulers from the South East and the North where no such disdainful practice occurs.
But more importantly, we call on the governors and council chairmen to rein in uncouth sponsors of hatred among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland.
In particular, a notorious Oba in Osun State who is always eager to cause disaffection between the Ooni and Alaafin should be warned to desist from his ignoble trade.
“Perhaps, the Yoruba ethnic group should take a cue from their fellow traditional rulers from the South East and the North where no such disdainful practice occurs.”
Culled from New National Star newspaper