Chieftaincy: Ooni’s Aide Replies Alaafin, Says His Ultimatum An Empty Threat From A Dead Empire

Following the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title he reportedly conferred on Ibadan business tycoon Dotun Sanusi, Mr Moses Olafare, the spokesperson Oba Ogunwusi has dismissed the ultimatum as “an empty threat from a dead empire”.
Olafare, while reacting to the threat on his social media page, on Tuesday, 19 august, 2025, described those that issued the threat as “jokers”.
The aide, who said the Ooni is busy creating jobs for the teeming youths of the region while some persons are fighting a supremacy battle through an expired empire added “Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland; they are busy fighting supremacy that doesn’t exist. Dead Empire!
“Their 48-hour ultimatum will soon lapse. We are waiting. Dead Empire!!! Ooni plans for the groundbreaking and launch of Ojaja Smart City, Ibadan, the biggest in Africa; someone is somewhere busy issuing 48-hour empty threats.
“Where does this king (Ooni) have time for supremacy hullabaloo? Issuing a 48-hour ultimatum over a chieftaincy title that doesn’t even exist!!!
Recall that on Monday, 19 August, 2025, owoade, gave Ogunwusi, a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title he reportedly conferred on Sanusi.
“The reality of our time makes it very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engineer Dotun Sanusi within 48 hours or face the consequences,” the statement said.
“The reality of our time makes it very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title conferred on Engineer Dotun Sanusi within 48 hours or face the consequences,” the statement said.
It reads, “The attention of the Alaafin of Oyo and the Titan of Yorubaland, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has been drawn to the purported conferment of chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a business tycoon, Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
“The conferment of chieftaincy title, which bothers on Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife, is an affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, who is the Titan of Yorubaland and who holds the exclusive right to confer any chieftaincy title which covers the entire Yorubaland on anyone.”
The statement said the apex Court in the country, the Supreme Court, had ruled on the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland on anyone.
“The instrument of office presented to Oba Ogunwusi, during his installation, specifically limits his traditional area of authority to Oranmiyan Local Government, which has now been split into three local governments, – Ife Central, Ife North and Ife South,” it added.