Main Yoruba conventional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, met in Lagos on Friday in what has been described as a landmark reconciliation between the 2 historical thrones.
The assembly was convened by businessman and philanthropist Kessington Adebutu as a part of actions marking his birthday celebration.
On the finish of the deliberations, each kings collectively introduced the institution of the Joint Council of Yoruba Unity (JCUY), a brand new physique aimed toward selling peace, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic improvement throughout Yorubaland.
In a communiqué signed by the Ooni and the Alaafin, and witnessed by Mr Adebutu, the royal fathers reaffirmed their shared dedication to unity, mutual respect, and the development of the Yoruba nation.
“At this time marks a defining second in our shared historical past. We’re dedicated to selling concord amongst Yoruba little children and to upholding the sacred values of mutual respect and brotherhood bequeathed to us by our forebears,” the communiqué said.
The Ooni and Alaafin additionally emphasised the significance of sustained dialogue between conventional establishments, noting that the prosperity of the Yoruba race is dependent upon collaboration relatively than competitors.
The gathering was attended by outstanding Yoruba leaders, conventional rulers, and cultural figures, a lot of whom hailed the event as a brand new daybreak for inter-kingdom relations.
Mr Adebutu, the convener of the assembly, expressed satisfaction with the end result, describing it as a milestone of reconciliation and imaginative and prescient.
He stated the approaching collectively of the 2 foremost thrones would encourage peace and progress not solely throughout Yorubaland but additionally amongst Yoruba descendants worldwide.
A rivalry rooted in historical past
Relations between the Ooni and the Alaafin have traditionally mirrored the broader energy dynamics of Yoruba historical past. Whereas Ile-Ife is revered because the religious cradle of the Yoruba nation, Oyo emerged as a strong political and army empire centuries in the past.
In trendy instances, occasional disagreements over hierarchy, protocol, and illustration in nationwide affairs created seen rifts between the 2 palaces.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported the disaster that erupted after the Ooni of Ife,conferred the chieftaincy title “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” on businessman Dotun Sanusi.
The Alaafin of Oyo instantly challenged the Ooni’s authority to bestow such a title on anybody, arguing that solely his stool can validly confer Yoruba‑huge titles.
Based on the Alaafin, the Ooni’s authority is legally and historically restricted to Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South native authorities areas of Osun State, making the conferment an overreach.
In a press release from the Alaafin’s media workplace, the monarch issued a 48‑hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title, warning of “dire penalties” if the demand is ignored.
The Alaafin referenced a Supreme Court docket ruling that he claimed supported his unique proper to bestow titles overlaying Yorubaland, emphasising that his stance is aimed toward preserving conventional hierarchy and cultural order throughout the Yoruba nation.
Nevertheless, the Ooni, via his media aide, Moses Olafare, dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin.
The feud led to a division, with sure teams supporting the Alaafin and others claiming the Ooni held a better rank.
Earlier efforts by Yoruba elders and political figures to fix fences typically resulted briefly symbolic gestures with out lasting impact.
Nevertheless, the Lagos assembly seems to have gone additional to design a structured framework for ongoing dialogue via the newly created Joint Council of Yoruba Unity.
