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Royal Rivalry Reloaded? Alaafin~Ooni “WAR” Tests History, LAW and Yoruba UNITY
Royal Rivalry Reloaded? Alaafin~Ooni “WAR” Tests History, LAW and Yoruba UNITY.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | SaharaWeeklyNG.com
There is a rumble in Yorubaland again. Headlines scream of a “ROYAL WAR” between two of the most storied thrones in West Africa (the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife) after the Ooni of Ife reportedly conferred the Yoruba-wide chieftaincy title Okanlomo of Yorubaland on an Ibadan industrialist, Chief Dotun Sanusi. In response, the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the title be revoked, arguing that only the Alaafin can grant distinctions that purport to cover all Yorubaland.
Before we turn emotion into enmity, let’s interrogate facts, history and law.
What actually happened?
Between 18–21 August 2025, multiple reputable outlets reported a sharp exchange. The Alaafin, through his media office, asserted that the Ooni had overstepped his authority and cited a Supreme Court position (which he vowed to publish) as backing for the claim that Yoruba-wide titles fall under the Alaafin’s exclusive remit. The Ooni’s camp has publicly downplayed talk of a supremacy battle, while civic and cultural voices urged calm.
This is not happening in a vacuum. The Alaafin’s stool has only recently stabilized: Oba Owoade received his staff of office in January 2025 and was crowned on April 5, 2025, after a rancorous succession interregnum. The Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has been on the throne since 2015 and is globally visible as a cultural symbol.
The long shadow of history.
The Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo embody two different but intertwined strands of Yoruba civilization:
Ile-Ife is the spiritual cradle; the site of origin in Yoruba cosmogony and the fountain of sacral authority. Historians from Samuel Johnson to modern scholars consistently frame Ife as the primordial center of Yoruba identity. (Johnson’s classic History of the Yorubas remains foundational.)
Oyo, particularly from the 16th to 19th centuries, was the political-military juggernaut of the western Sudan, a cavalry empire studied by historians such as Robin Law. The Alaafin became synonymous with statecraft, external relations and the adjudication of inter-polity protocols.
Those parallel lineages bred periodic rivalry over status and scope, compounded by colonial-era re-engineering of “TRADITIONAL COUNCILS” and post-1991 state creation (when Osun State was carved from Oyo, relocating Ife to a different administrative orbit). The effect: jurisdictional fog where customary breadth meets modern legal borders—exactly the fault line today’s dispute treads.
Unity is not a myth; there was a reset.
It would be historically dishonest to paint the relationship as perpetual warfare. In January 2016, just weeks after his coronation, Ooni Ogunwusi paid a historic visit to the late Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III in Oyo (the first by an Ooni since 1937) in what was widely celebrated as the breaking of a “79-year jinx.” The Ooni declared then: “My mission here is to preach peace among nations of Yoruba both home and abroad.” The Alaafin publicly reciprocated, calling for unity. The symbolism was not cheap theatre; it energized a season of rapprochement.
That 2016 reset is a vital baseline: Yoruba unity is possible when egos bow to heritage.
The law: who can bestow “Yorubaland” titles?
The Alaafin’s media office now cites a Supreme Court pronouncement allegedly limiting Yoruba-wide titles to the Oyo monarchy and confining the Ooni’s writ to his local jurisdictions in Osun State. As of press time, independent legal texts and the specific judgment have not been exhibited publicly, though the Alaafin has hinted at publishing the ruling. Conversely, some commentary questions any absolute reading that one throne “EXCLUSIVELY” controls pan-Yoruba dignities. In short: claims exist on both sides; the documentary proof is awaited. Facts (not folklore) must decide.
Two things can be true at once:
Customary memory often accords the Alaafin a coordinating role in Yoruba-wide protocols; and
The Ooni’s primacy as Arole Oduduwa (heir and standard-bearer of the progenitor) carries trans-local spiritual cachet that many communities recognize.
Only a clear, cited court judgment or a negotiated inter-throne compact can settle the overlap where sacred preeminence meets political hegemony.
Why this “royal war” framing is dangerous.
The language of “WAR” is gasoline on dry grass. Yorubaland faces REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES, SECURITY DEFICITS, YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, CULTURAL EROSION. Turning a title dispute into a civilizational crack-up is elite negligence. As Aare Gani Adams (Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland) cautioned amid this flare-up, the region “can’t afford to be divided.” Leadership requires de-escalation, not victory laps.
From a governance perspective, supremacy theatre distracts from institution-building: codifying jurisdiction, harmonizing chieftaincy protocols and safeguarding cultural diplomacy that brings investment, tourism and respect. From a historical perspective, it trivializes centuries of statecraft and spirituality by reducing them to soundbites.
The path out: six concrete steps.
Publish the Judgment: If there is a determinative Supreme Court ruling, release it; full text, citation, ratio decidendi. Let lawyers and historians test it in daylight. Ambiguity breeds rumor.
Set Up a Royal Protocols Commission: A joint Alaafin–Ooni panel with eminent historians (e.g., Yoruba studies scholars), jurists and culture custodians; should draft a Memorandum on Pan-Yoruba Titles: definitions, limits, consultative triggers and recognition guidelines.
Adopt Mutual Notification: Any proposed. Yorubaland-wide title by either palace should trigger a formal prior-notice and no-objection window for the other.
Historicize, Don’t Weaponize: Commission a scholarly white paper (drawing on Johnson’s History of the Yorubas and modern research on Oyo/Ifẹ̀) to map ancient precedence to contemporary practice, so that tradition informs law, not vice versa.
Speak Once, Calmly: Designate one spokesperson per palace. Mixed messaging feeds social-media gladiators and lowers the stature of both stools.
Stage a Public Re-Embrace: Replicate 2016; a joint public appearance, a short communique using the Ooni’s own 2016 register of “PEACE” and the late Alaafin’s “UNITY” language. Symbols matter.
Intellectual weight: what the scholars teach.
On Ife’s sacral primacy: Nineteenth-century chronicler Samuel Johnson framed Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba civilization, a point echoed across modern Yoruba studies. This does not mechanically translate into administrative supremacy but explains why Ife’s voice carries across sub-ethnic lines.
On Oyo’s political centrality: Histories of the Oyo Empire emphasize its institutional sophistication (checks on royal power, provincial administration and diplomatic precedence) factors that created expectations of arbiter-like roles for the Alaafin.
Takeaway: Spiritual primacy and political centrality are not mutually exclusive; they are complementary pillars. Mature civilizations build mechanisms to let both breathe.
Fact-check corner (so no stone is left unturned)
Did the Ooni confer a Yoruba-wide title on Chief Dotun Sanusi in August 2025?
Yes—credible outlets reported the Ooni conferred Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Sanusi, prompting the Alaafin’s ultimatum.
Is there a published Supreme Court judgment giving the Alaafin exclusive rights over Yoruba-wide titles?
Not yet publicly exhibited. The Alaafin has referenced such a ruling and indicated an intention to publish it; until it is produced and scrutinized, this remains an assertion rather than a verified legal constraint.
Are the thrones historically locked in permanent enmity?
No. The 2016 reconciliation was a watershed (first Ooni visit since 1937) with explicit peace rhetoric from both sides.
Who occupies the thrones today?
Ooni: Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (since 2015). Alaafin: Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I (staff of office January 2025; crowned April 5, 2025).
Yorubaland’s greatness was never built on “WINNER-TAKES-ALL” posturing. It was built on the hard weave of sacred legitimacy and statecraft capacity; Ife and Oyo in dynamic tension, not destructive rivalry. The 2016 embrace proved that dignity does not diminish by sharing space. It expands.
Today, the adult thing (the royal thing) is simple: produce the judgment, codify shared protocols and re-enact that embrace. There is more honor in co-guarding a heritage than in “OWNING” it. Royalty is not a megaphone; it is a mirror. Let it reflect the best of the Yoruba nation.
© SaharaWeeklyNG.com. All rights reserved.
celebrity radar - gossips
Kingdom Advancement: God Does Not Confirm Lies or Gossip — He Confirms His Word .” — Dr. Chris Okafor
Kingdom Advancement: God Does Not Confirm Lies or Gossip—He Confirms His Word
“When Doing Business with God,
People’s Opinions Do Not Count.”
— Dr. Christian Okafor
The greatest investment any Christian can make is partnering with God. According to the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Christopher Okafor, when a believer commits to serving and advancing God’s kingdom, no barrier, lie, gossip, or blackmail can prevail against them.
This message was delivered during the Prophetic Financial Sunday Service held on February 15, 2026, at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.
Doing Business with God
Teaching on the theme “Kingdom Advancement” with the subtitle “Doing Business with God,” Dr. Okafor emphasized that when a believer enters into covenant partnership with God, divine backing becomes inevitable.
“God is still in the business of covenant,” he declared. “When you make a covenant with Him, He honors the terms. When you win souls into the kingdom and remain committed to His work, He rewards you with what you could never achieve by your own strength.”
The Man of God stressed that God does not confirm lies, gossip, or negative narratives—He confirms His Word. Therefore, anyone genuinely committed to kingdom business should not be distracted by public opinion.
“No matter the blackmail or falsehood circulating around you, if you are focused on God’s assignment, those attacks will only strengthen you,” he stated.
He further noted that a believer’s understanding of God’s covenant determines their experience. “Your mentality about God’s covenant becomes your reality. When you truly know the God you serve, no devil can move you.”
Biblical Examples of Kingdom Partnership
Dr. Okafor cited several biblical figures who prospered through their partnership with God:
Abel
Abel served God with sincerity and offered his very best. His sacrifice pleased God, demonstrating that when a master is honored, he responds with favor.
David
David’s heart was fully devoted to God, and in return, God’s presence and favor rested upon him throughout his life.
Hannah
Hannah made a covenant with God, promising that if He blessed her with a child, she would dedicate him to His service. After fulfilling her vow, God rewarded her abundantly, blessing her with additional children.
Peter
Peter, a professional fisherman, surrendered his boat at Jesus’ request for kingdom work. Through that act of partnership and obedience, he experienced supernatural provision and divine elevation.
Conclusion
In closing, Dr. Okafor emphasized that one’s approach to God’s covenant determines the level of success and prosperity experienced. Commitment to kingdom advancement secures divine confirmation and supernatural results.
The Prophetic Financial Sunday Service was marked by prophetic declarations, deliverance, healings, miracles, restoration, and solutions to diverse cases presented before Elohim.
At 55, Omoyele Sowore Remains a Defiant Voice of Conscience
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“SaharaWeeklyNG Management and Staff Salute a Relentless Campaigner for Justice and Democratic Accountability.”
As activist, journalist and politician Omoyele Sowore marks his 55th birthday, the management and staff of SaharaWeeklyNG join millions of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to celebrate a man widely regarded as one of the most persistent and fearless voices for democratic accountability in modern Nigeria.
Born on February 16, 1971, in Ondo State, Sowore rose from student activism at the University of Lagos to become one of the country’s most recognisable pro-democracy figures. His early involvement in the student movement during the military era of the 1990s placed him at the forefront of protests against dictatorship and repression, a role that would shape the course of his life and career.
He later founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, an online investigative platform that quickly gained prominence for exposing corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations. Operating initially from the United States, the outlet became a symbol of citizen journalism and digital activism, publishing stories often ignored or suppressed by mainstream media. Over the years, the platform has reported on high-level corruption cases, electoral malpractices and security failures, earning both praise and fierce criticism from political authorities.
Sowore’s activism took a dramatic turn in 2019 when he contested Nigeria’s presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC). Although he did not win, the campaign amplified his calls for systemic reform. Months later, he launched the #RevolutionNow movement, a nationwide protest demanding an end to corruption, economic hardship and insecurity.
In August 2019, he was arrested by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of treasonable felony. His detention, which lasted several months despite court orders for his release, sparked international condemnation from human rights groups, civil society organisations and foreign observers. The case turned him into a global symbol of resistance against state repression.
Over the years, Sowore has faced multiple arrests, court trials and travel restrictions. Yet he has remained resolute, insisting that his activism is rooted in the constitutional right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Supporters describe him as a principled crusader against injustice, while critics accuse him of political extremism. Regardless of the perspective, his impact on Nigeria’s political discourse is undeniable.
His life’s work echoes the enduring words of Nelson Mandela, who once said, “Freedom is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” For many of Sowore’s followers, his sacrifices represent precisely that spirit, an unyielding struggle for a more accountable and equitable society.
Similarly, the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. (that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”) resonates deeply with the trajectory of Sowore’s activism. Whether confronting police brutality, electoral irregularities or economic injustice, he has consistently framed his struggle as one for the collective dignity of Nigerians.
Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka once observed that “the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” That sentiment captures the essence of Sowore’s public life. For over three decades, he has refused silence, even when it meant imprisonment, harassment and personal sacrifice.
At 55, Sowore’s journey is far from over. He remains active in political advocacy, civil rights campaigns and public commentary, continuing to challenge what he describes as systemic failures in governance and leadership. His career reflects both the promise and the peril of dissent in a fragile democracy; where the line between patriotism and confrontation is often fiercely contested.
On this milestone birthday, SaharaWeeklyNG management and staff recognise Sowore not merely as an individual, but as a symbol of the enduring struggle for transparency, justice, and democratic renewal. His story is one of conviction under pressure, a reminder that the quest for a better society often demands courage, resilience and a willingness to stand alone.
As Nigeria navigates its complex political and economic realities, figures like Sowore continue to shape the national conversation. Whether praised or criticised, his voice remains a constant in the country’s democratic journey; loud, uncompromising and impossible to ignore.
Banwo Accuses Alex Otti Administration of Governance by Propaganda
Public commentator and lawyer Dr. Ope Banwo has criticised the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti, accusing the administration of running what he described as a “propaganda-driven government” built on exaggerated claims and selective messaging rather than measurable governance outcomes.
In a detailed commentary, Banwo argued that while Abia State has recorded some progress in specific sectors, the government’s media machinery has inflated limited achievements into what he called “statewide miracles,” creating a disconnect between online narratives and lived realities.
Banwo, who said he initially viewed Governor Otti as a symbol of hope following the 2023 elections, noted that his concerns emerged after engaging residents and professionals living in Abia to verify widely circulated claims about infrastructure, power supply, healthcare, and transportation.
Central to Banwo’s critique is the portrayal of Abia as a state with uninterrupted electricity. He acknowledged the existence of the Aba ring-fenced power arrangement involving Aba Power and Geometric Power but argued that the arrangement has been misrepresented as statewide energy independence.
According to him, extending the Aba power project to represent the entire state amounts to misinformation, especially given acknowledged outages and the limited geographical coverage of the scheme.
He further questioned claims that Abia was the first state to assume intrastate electricity regulation, stating that other states, including Lagos State, had taken similar steps earlier.
Banwo also raised concerns over viral claims suggesting that biogas facilities are already powering Abia communities, arguing that pilot projects have been prematurely presented as fully operational infrastructure.
He noted that residents he spoke with were largely unaware of any functional biogas-powered communities, stressing that government announcements should be backed by publicly available data on scale, output, and sustainability.
On healthcare, the founder of Naija Lives Matters (NLM) questioned reports that Abia offers free medical care to all citizens above 60 years of age for life, describing the claim as unverified and unsupported by legislation, budgetary provisions, or formal policy documents.
Similarly, he criticised claims suggesting that electric vehicles operate widely across the state and that all roads have been tarred, describing such assertions as exaggerated and misleading.
The self-acclaimed Mayor of Fadeyi argued that the core issue is not the absence of development but what he described as a governance style driven by social media optics rather than transparent performance metrics.
He warned that excessive reliance on viral content, influencers, and unverified claims risks eroding public trust and undermining accountability, noting that effective governance requires data, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
“A serious government does not need to exaggerate results,” Banwo said, adding that citizens require reliable services, not slogans.
He also advised the Abia government to avoid constant comparisons with states like Lagos and its governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging the administration to focus instead on publishing verifiable performance records.
Banwo challenged the Otti administration to release clear documentation supporting its claims, including power coverage maps, healthcare policy instruments, infrastructure project lists, and implementation timelines.
He concluded that while Abia State has not “collapsed,” the growing gap between online narratives and on-ground realities could become more damaging than infrastructural deficits if left unaddressed.
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