Gani Adams Calls For Calm Between Ooni and Alaafin

Gani Adams Calls For Calm Between Ooni and Alaafin

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has called for calm and reconciliation between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, following a tense disagreement over the conferment of a chieftaincy title on Ibadan-based entrepreneur Dotun Sanusi.

The dispute arose after the Ooni conferred the title Okanlomo of Oodua on Sanusi during the launch of 2geda, a social media and business networking platform held at Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Akanran, Ibadan, on Saturday, August 16.

Controversy followed when the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the reversal of the title, which he claimed had been misinterpreted as Okanlomo of Yorubaland, warning of consequences if the correction was not made.

Responding to the ultimatum, Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, stated that the monarch would not engage in threats, asserting that the issue had been left “in the court of public opinion.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, Aare Adams urged both royal figures to de-escalate tensions, warning that internal discord among Yoruba monarchs could open the door to external threats.

“I have reached out to some Yoruba elders on the matter. The aim is to rally them to intervene in the growing tension between the two Imperial Majesties, the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo,” Adams said.

He emphasised the importance of unity between the two revered leaders, describing them as pillars of Yoruba identity and influence.

“The two monarchs are our pride in Yorubaland and indeed in Africa. We cannot afford to have disunity between them. So, I have reached out to the two revered monarchs in Africa and palaces, that the issue should be resolved amicably, and we should sustain peace in Yorubaland.”

Adams also linked the dispute to broader regional security concerns, stressing the need for solidarity.

“Yorubaland is undergoing some pockets of insecurity now. The two prominent monarchs have roles to play in all these, and we cannot afford to allow external enemies to infiltrate us. If there is no crack in the wall, the lizard cannot penetrate it.”

Reaffirming his appeal for peace, the Yorubaland Generalissimo concluded that the region’s stability hinges on the unity of its foremost traditional rulers.

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