The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has intervened in the escalating disagreement between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, urging both monarchs to embrace dialogue and preserve peace in Yorubaland. The dispute stems from the recent conferment of the Okanlomo of Oodua chieftaincy title on Ibadan-based business mogul, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife during the unveiling of a new social media and business networking platform, 2geda, held on August 16 at Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Ibadan.
The move has drawn strong opposition from the Alaafin, who issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni reverse the chieftaincy title or face unspecified consequences. In response, Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum, stressing that the palace would not be swayed by threats and had left the matter “in the court of public opinion.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, Adams called on Yoruba elders and stakeholders to mediate between the two traditional rulers, warning that disunity among them could create room for external threats. “The two monarchs are our pride in Yorubaland and indeed in Africa. We cannot afford disunity between them,” Adams said, adding that he had reached out to both palaces to seek an amicable settlement.
The Yoruba generalissimo also emphasized that the region was facing growing insecurity, which required unity among its foremost traditional leaders. “If there is no crack in the wall, the lizard cannot penetrate it,” Adams noted, stressing that divisions among monarchs could embolden enemies to exploit vulnerabilities in Yorubaland.
Adams described the Ooni and Alaafin as custodians of Yoruba heritage and identity, urging them to prioritize peace, stability, and collective responsibility. He maintained that a truce between the two royal fathers was critical to safeguarding the unity of the Yoruba people and sustaining their cultural values at a time of national challenges.
