Ibadan/Ile-Ife — The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Engr.) Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), to revoke the newly conferred title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan industrialist Chief (Engr.) Jubril Dotun Sanusi (Ilaji)—or face unspecified consequences. In a strongly worded statement, the Alaafin described the conferment as an “affront” to the Oyo throne and to established Yoruba chieftaincy traditions.
According to multiple reports, the Ooni announced/confirmed Sanusi’s honour around the Ooni’s public unveiling of 2GEDA, an indigenous social media platform, an event that drew notable Yoruba figures. The Alaafin’s palace insists any title “covering the entirety of Yorubaland” falls within the Alaafin’s exclusive preserve, and therefore asked the Ooni to retract the title within 48 hours.
Leadership newspaper reports that the Alaafin faulted the “Yorubaland-wide” scope of the title, arguing it usurps Oyo’s traditional prerogatives. Local outlets further cite a palace statement (signed by the Alaafin’s media director) warning that failure to reverse the move would be viewed as a deliberate provocation. (The statement also referenced a legal basis; however, details of any specific court ruling were not independently verified at press time.)
Who is Dotun Sanusi?
Sanusi—Ilaji Resorts, Ilaji Farms and Ilaji Football Academy promoter—has longstanding ties to top Yoruba royal institutions and has previously been tipped for the Okanlomo honour (reports of his “Okanlomo of Yorubaland designate” status date back to 2020). His confirmation this week appears to have reignited longstanding debates about the scope and hierarchy of Yoruba chieftaincy titles.
The Alaafin throne, historically influential across the old Oyo Empire, has recently transitioned to Oba Owoade I (2025), while the Ooni remains one of the most visible pan-Yoruba cultural figures. Any cross-domain titles can quickly become sensitive, especially when styled “of Yorubaland.”
The Ooni has in recent years used high-profile platforms and initiatives (like 2GEDA) to amplify cultural diplomacy—moves that sometimes intersect with traditional protocols.
All eyes are on Ile-Ife for an official response. As of publication, no formal counter-statement from the Ooni’s palace had been widely circulated by mainstream outlets. We’ll update if a response is issued or if mediatory steps by Yoruba elders emerge. (Reports on social platforms and community pages show celebrations around Sanusi’s conferment, underscoring how fast this story is evolving.)
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