Ooni, Alaafin mend ties at Lagos meeting, create joint council for Yoruba unity

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, met in Lagos on Friday following a two-month rift.

The meeting was convened by Kessington Adebutu, the billionaire businessman better known as ‘Baba Ijebu’.

The sit-down was held at the Eko Hotel on the sidelines of Adebutu’s 90th birthday celebration.

In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, both monarchs announced the formation of the joint council for Yoruba unity — a platform aimed at promoting peace, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic growth across Yoruba communities.

The communiqué was signed by the Ooni and Alaafin, witnessed by Adebutu, and issued by Kola Oyefeso, secretary of the communiqué drafting committee.

The meeting of the monarchs was described as a turning point in Yoruba history.

“Today marks a defining chapter in our shared history,” the communiqué reads.

“We reaffirm our dedication to promoting harmony among all Yoruba sons and daughters, and upholding the sacred values of mutual respect and brotherhood handed down by our ancestors.”

The gathering was attended by traditional rulers, cultural custodians, and prominent Yoruba leaders, who discussed reconciliation, cooperation, and inter-kingdom relations.

The Ooni and Alaafin jointly offered prayers for peace, prosperity, and progress across Yorubaland, Nigeria, and the African continent.

Adebutu expressed delight at the renewed royal bond, describing it as “a milestone that will consolidate peace, unity, and development among the Yoruba people”.

OONI-ALAAFIN RIFT

The mending of ties comes two months after a row erupted over the conferment of the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” title on businessman Dotun Sanusi by the Ooni.

Following the conferment, the Alaafin had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni revoke the title.

He described the development as an “affront” and claimed exclusive authority to bestow titles covering the whole of Yorubaland.

The Alaafin had argued that a supreme court ruling had affirmed his sole prerogative in such matters.

In response, the Ooni’s media team dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” saying the monarch would not dignify it with a formal response.