Supremacy of Alaafin: An essay of caution to Dare Babarinsa and his co-travellers, By Adejare Ibrahim

Supremacy of Alaafin: An essay of caution to Dare Babarinsa and his co-travellers, By Adejare Ibrahim

As much as some of us would not want to revisit the supremacy tussle between the Alaafin and Ọọni, people like Alagba Dare Babarinsa will provoke us with their unfounded and baseless narratives.

What exactly are they saying or trying to prove or gain from this controversy? Tell us. Who, in his right frame of mind, will rate Ọọni above Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo? History has been kind and has vindicated the Alaafin, and nothing can change it.

It is crass ignorance and profound naivety on the part of anyone who stirs this renewed debate. Mr Dare Babarinsa is guilty of this needless rivalry and commotions. I don’t know the interest of whom he is surreptitiously serving; either Ọọni or his personal interest; we do not know.

The hierarchy and status of traditional rulers in Yorubaland were never in contention until Chief Obafemi Awolowo adulterated it with his dirty brand of politics. Yes, he caused this utter confusion, disunity and unhealthy rivalry in Yorubaland.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the premier of the Western Region and the political head of the Action Group, callously placed the then Ọọni of Ifẹ, Oba Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi, over His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Bello Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II and gave him all the political support.

It was unrefined politics on Chief Awolowo’s part: after dethroning and banishing the 43rd Alaafin of Oyo, His Majesty Oba Alhaji Adeniran Adeyemi II, that the Action Group leader found Oba Adesoji Aderemi as the right political stooge to alter the lush and cherished traditional history of the Yorubas.

I love history, and I loathe history being distorted. I am neither an ethnic chauvinist nor jingoist, but I have special affinity for history. It is worrisome when people concoct genres of myth in the face of impeccable facts. It remains a myth as it is diametrically opposed to obvious historical facts.

Ask yourself: before the advent of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, who were the past Ọọni of Ifẹ? Probe your inquisitive mind further: can I mention the names of the past Ọọnis and their significant roles in the Yoruba political and administrative history. No Ọọni surfaced or featured in our history as Yorubas.

A fact, none of these harbingers of distortions cannot abrade from the Yoruba history, from time immemorial, is the significant roles of the Alaafin of Oyo. Oyo had an empire that traversed the shores of Yoruba land. Alaafin was the head of that powerful, rich and influential empire. No empire existed, either now or before, except the ancient Oyo Empire.

History has acquainted us with copious facts that Ooni is known to have been appointed by the Alaafin as the custodian and keeper of the rituals and oratory of the gods in Ile-Ife. The stool of Ooni was never known to be big on hereditary kingship. Oonis have been the descendants of Adimu the Olorisa, instead of being the direct descendants of Oduduwa.

The Alaafins of Oyo have been the paramount kings and rulers of the Yorubas. Alaafin, in recognition of his leadership, had intervened in numerous boundary disputes involving the territories of the Ooni and Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland.

Some years back, when Oba of Benin visited Ile-Ife, the comments made by Ooni Sijuade (I am happy to welcome back my son and brother to the land of our ancestor, Oduduwa) was swiftly refuted by the Oba, through his response:”who is the son of who?”

Moreover, the British, as it was in their tradition, recognized lineage as meaning supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Head of the Yoruba Nation.

On August 8th1960, when Sir Adesoji Aderemi held sway as the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II was appointed the Chairman of the Council of Obas for two years, Oba Adesoji never batted an eyelid.

In 1962, when the Ooni had ceased to be a governor, he reverted to his traditional stool and was attending the meetings of Obas, which had the Alaafin as the Chairman. When the first term of Alaafin Gbadegesin expired, he was reappointed for another two-year term. The Alaafin was reappointed for the third time in 1965 until the military struck.

In 1966, Lt Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo made the Ooni Chairman and the Alaafin his Deputy. Only the Alaafin, among other traditional rulers, protested the awkward appointment and sought redress, as Alaafin does not play a second fiddle to any Oba in Yorubaland. In 1976, the military government had to reinstate the Alaafin as the Chairman of the Council.

It is also a distortion to address the Ooni as “His Imperial Majesty”. This is another gaffe! We have addressed this issue for the umpteenth time. Only the Alaafin is addressed as His/Your Imperial Majesty.

You cannot assume the title when you have no empire you rule(d) over. Alaafin ruled over a vast empire (From Ilorin to Dahomey and to some parts of Ghana; Ashanti) while Ooni did not have that royal privilege.The Ooni is better addressed as His/Your Royal Majesty. This is history, my people!

The preeminence and supremacy of the Alaafin are obvious from the above assertions and as deeply espoused in many Yoruba books of history. We should not distort the history by pitching the Alaafin against the Ooni. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi made an unequivocal statement on his coronation day that he was not into any supremacy contest with the Alaafin.

Therefore, Alaafin remains the undisputed leader of all Yoruba monarchs. Mr Dare Babarinsa and his co-travellers should halt their shenanigans and tread softly on the slippery turf of manipulative ignorance. We understand his sophistries. We are sure; Ọọni did not commission him or any of his ilks for this hatchet job. Let peace reign.

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