A former Chairman of Nigerite Ltd, Yemi Oladimeji has called on both the Alaafin of Oyo, Alaafin Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, and the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to set aside rivalry and personal interests in order to safeguard the unity and future of the Yoruba race.
He stressed that it has become urgently necessary for the two foremost Yoruba rulers to “sheath their swords and abandon egoistical interests.” He warned that failure to do so could spell doom for the Yoruba race which is widely regarded as a leading light in Nigeria and across Africa.
In a statement, the 2007 governorship aspirant of the Alliance for Democracy in Osun State said the ongoing struggle for supremacy among leading Yoruba traditional rulers has created a vacuum that politicians are eager to exploit.
According to him, “I am afraid the politicians have seen a gaping hole in the struggle for a number one position, not only between the Alaafin and the Ooni, but among leading Yoruba traditional rulers, and even at another dangerous dimension which extends to some elements in the Northern, South-Eastern and South-Southern traditional rulers and they are prepared to maximise the plot to reduce the enormous powers of these royal fathers while they further and farther reposition their own authorities.”
While acknowledging the deep historical influence of both thrones, Oladimeji noted that resolving the current tensions requires more than reliance on historical claims. He urged the monarchs to adopt creative and forward-looking measures that prioritize the collective interest of the Yoruba people over contestations for superiority.
He also warned politicians to steer clear of chieftaincy matters and the appointment of traditional rulers, describing instances of governors “distributing crowns like cakes” as a dangerous move with long-term consequences.
He said, “Let the politicians steer clear of traditional matters. It is strange to see a governor distributing crowns freely like cakes. This conduct is a taboo and it has dire consequences, if not in the short run but in the long run. And let me add this that any government interference in traditional matters is not acceptable because of laying a bad precedent.”
Referencing Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Oladimeji cautioned that actions perceived as relegating the Alaafin stool could set precedents that future administrations might exploit, saying “where the Alaafin stool is being relegated to the background know that any governor in future on a whim can repeat or do worse than what Governor Seyi Makinde has lately done in Oyo State to our foremost royal fathers and the case will be indefensible because of the precedent.”
While citing history, Oladimeji explained that the Alaafin bears the title “His Imperial Majesty” because he once ruled the old Oyo Empire, the largest and most centralized empire in Yorubaland. The empire, known as Òyó-Ilé, exercised authority over vast Yoruba territories and non-Yoruba peoples, collecting tributes from vassal states such as Ijebu, Egba, Egbado and Dahomey. However, he emphasized that such imperial dominance remains historical and should not fuel present-day rivalry.
He however, called on the Alaafin and the Ooni to prioritize peace, unity and visionary leadership, even invoking the symbolism of returning to ancestral sanctuaries to seek spiritual guidance if necessary, in order to protect Yoruba tradition from political encroachment and ensure unprecedented progress for the race.
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