Why I don’t need to get into supremacy battle with any monarch — Alaafin

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has explained why he does not need to engage in any supremacy battle with other monarchs, whether in Yorubaland or beyond.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, said the Alaafin remains a true custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, whose rule is anchored in the safety and welfare of his subjects. 

He added that the monarch’s decisions are shaped by the will and wishes of his people.

He stressed that Oba Owoade would never compromise the tradition, culture, and development of his people for personal gain, noting that the success of his reign is evident in the prosperity, security, and well-being of his kingdom.

The statement reads in part, “Why Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe? These immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell – The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion.

“It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider, and progressively be able to grasp any theme or situation -persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree” – sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all.

“He (Alaafin) is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects and will never compromise tradition, culture, and development of his people for a pot of porridge. The history has been so kind and friendly to Alaafin Owoade publicity since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as he does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.

“Alaafin combines humility with royalty to meet the modern-day demands. Kabiyesi (the king who no one questions). Iku Baba Yeye (The one who commands death/he who is parent to death). Alashe (He who wields authority). Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-command to the gods). The Alaafin was inducted into the mysteries of various gods like Ifa, Sango, etc, to be the direct representative of these deities on earth.”

The statement further declared, “At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, as Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition. Oduduwa’s Principal minister and grandson, Oranmiyan (Because Oduduwa begot Okanbi, (an only child and Okanbi begot Oranmiyan, among others, namely Ila-Orangun, Oni-Sabe, Olu-Popo, Ala-Ketu, Oba-Benin) founded the city of Oyo when prolonged drought struck Ile-Ife as a result of people’s emigration. 

“Oyo simply rose to prominence through wealth gained from trade and its military skills. It was the largest West African empire, the most important and authoritative of all the early Yoruba principalities. More so, the British, as it was in their tradition, recognised lineage as meaningful supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation.

“In politics also, he is concerned about the sanctity of his position, and whatever happens on the welfare of his people. Customs and all traditional practices of today in government, religion and economic life have had distance, and possibly age-long origins which were based on valid and accepted tenets that emerged from the synthesis and aggregated experience of a particular society.

“One of such societies is the ancient city of Oyo, reputed for cultural resources that are of rich non-material and material attributes and transmitted through generations. Moreover, the precepts and concepts of Alaafin’s administration have continued to support and nurture the people’s ancient culture and sophisticated civilisation from time immemorial.

“The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line.”

The clarification comes in the wake of heated reactions in the past few days after a statement released on Monday from the Alaafin’s palace challenged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

In that earlier statement, Oba Owoade had argued that the exclusive right to bestow a pan-Yoruba title rests with the Alaafin alone, insisting that no other Yoruba monarch, including the Ooni, holds such authority. 

He, however, gave a 48-hour ultimatum, which has since expired, to the Ooni to reverse the conferment of the title or face the consequences.

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