Not long after the new Alaafin of Oyo was crowned, some jingoists started peddling him as the paramount ruler over all Yoruba, citing the mischievous documents from colonial era where Alaafin and all monarchs in Nigeria were placed under civilian governments in contrast to what you find in England, where the reigning monarch is the head of government. In the same ancient document, Alaafin was mischievously made a first class Oba above any other Oba in Yorubaland, completely ignoring history. This same issue was what created decade-long feud between Oba Adeyemi, the late Alaafin and late Oba Okunade Olubose Sijuade, the late Ooni of Ife.. That died down when Ojaja Adewusi became Oonirisa. Oba Adeyemi seemed to have sheathed his sword and embraced Oba Adewusi as equal...
I warned when these jingoists started fanning this ember of discord as the new Alaafin was installed, calling him the Alaafin of Yorubaland instead of the Alaafin of Oyo. Alaafin's territory does not extend outside Oyoland. I asked those calling him the supreme leader of Yoruba to tell him to test the extension of his power by declaring a curfew in Ogbomoso or Ibadan, during the next Oro festival, and see if he will not be put in his place.
This is 2025. Our traditional leaders need to be groomed into roles of fathers that foster peace and not trouble formenters. Alaafin has been installing Aare Onakakanfo as a high chief of Yorubaland, whereas Aare Onakakanfo historically has been an Oyo Chief of War. Ooni has never fought any Alaafin for doing that... I am not sure why Alaafin thinks he can force the hand of Ooni to change the title he conferred as a the representative of Oodua, the father of all Yorubas...
I would not say our royal fathers do not have much to do to be concerned with this type of petty fight at a time when they are supposed to be putting forward a collective front to represent the interest of their people, especially that of the Yoruba people with domestic and global powers. They should asking for more national investment in their cities, lead investment onvoy to local and foreign companies, lobby foreign companies to locate their manufacturing hubs in their land, ask for more representation at the national level, solve perennial local issues like kidnapping and banditory, and by doing so restore honor to their respective thrones instead of washing their dirty clothes in the public arena. I hope some elders in Yorubaland will speak some hard truths to these middle-aged Obas. We need a united Yorubaland, not one torn apart by petty fights in public view.
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