- Safiu Kehinde
The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has on Wednesday, urged both the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, to sheath their swords over the ongoing seniority contest.
NPO Reported that the Alaafin had on Monday sparked fresh feud with the Ooni after ordering him to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title he conferred on prominent Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
The Oyo monarch, in a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, faulted the Ooni’s action which was described as an affront on the Oyo monarch’s authority.
Durojaiye held that only the Alaafin has the exclusive right to bestow titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.
He accused the Ooni of disregarding a Supreme Court ruling which had affirmed the Alaafin’s exclusive powers in such matters.
While the Ooni Palace had decided not to make an official statement, the aide to Osun monarch, Moses Olafare, fired back at the Alaafin.
Olafare, in a post on his Facebook handle, talked down the Alaafin’s threat on the Ooni of Ife.
He held that the Ooni is occupied with job creations for youths across Yorubaland while the Oyo monarch is fighting for supremacy that does not exist as he labelled his kingdom a ‘dead empire’, in reference to the Old Oyo empire.
Reacting to the development, Fayemi Fakayode the ICIR President, in a statement issued on Wednesday in celebration of the Iseese Day, pleaded for collaboration and mutual understanding between the two monarchs.
This according to him is necessary for the development, progress, and unity of Yorubaland.
“As we mark this year’s Ìsẹ̀ṣe festival, we extend our warmest felicitations to our revered traditional rulers. May they be endowed with robust health and longevity.
“We express our deepest gratitude to those monarchs who have remained unwavering custodians of our cultural traditions and respectfully advise those who have embraced foreign cultures to reconnect with their heritage.
“To propel our land towards development, progress, and unity, we enjoin our traditional rulers to foster a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding. Our special appeal goes to Imperial Majesties Alayeluwa Ọba Ogunwusi, the Oonirisa, and Alayeluwa Oba Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, to continue their noble endeavours in harmony for the betterment of our people.
“Let me, on behalf of ICIR, call on both Oba Ogunwusi and Oba Owoade to sheath their swords over the ongoing seniority contest between the duo. We are also pleading for harmony, which we believe would fast-track development in the Yoruba kingdom,” Fakayode wrote.