The 48-hour deadline issued to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, to withdraw the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland conferred on Ibadan businessman Prince Dotun Sanusi has elapsed without action.
Oba Owoade, quoting from a Supreme Court judgment, asserts that it is only the Alaafin who can confer titles with the “Yorubaland” label. He accused the Ooni of misusing his traditional authority in awarding the title to Sanusi.
On Monday, Alaafin’s aide, Bode Durojaye, had issued a call for the withdrawal of the title in 48 hours. But since the deadline expired without any word from the Ife palace, sources quoted in Oyo said the monarch is now poised to make public the Supreme Court verdict to underpin his position as Yorubaland’s paramount ruler.
A number of meetings were reportedly held between Monday and Wednesday in Oyo to determine the next course of action for Alaafin, with insiders indicating the first step might involve releasing the judgment of the uppermost court.
