The descendants of Oduduwa worldwide, have affirmed that only the Ooni of Ife possesses the authority to appoint individuals as Okanlomo Odua as the Ooni is also known as Arole Odua.
The declaration came amidst a growing supremacy dispute between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over the recent conferral of the Okanlomo Odua title on Ibadan-based business tycoon, philanthropist and the CEO of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi JDS).
The Oduduwa descendants emphasised that, “The lineage of Oduduwa is clear; only the Ooni can designate the Okanlomo Odua, and any claim otherwise is a distortion of our heritage.”
The tensions between the two traditional rulers intensified following the Alaafin’s assertion of superiority over the Ooni in matters of installation rights.
The Alaafin contended that his royal lineage granted him precedence in such appointments.
In response, the Oduduwa descendants have rallied to support the Ooni, stating that, “Our traditions are rooted in respect and recognition of rightful authority, which resides solely with the Ooni of Ife, a revered figure in our cultural heritage.”
“The Oduduwa lineage, revered as the source of Yoruba culture, has long maintained that the Ooni’s position is pivotal in upholding spiritual and cultural norms.”
“We will not stand by while the integrity of our lineage is undermined.”
“The Okanlomo title is not just a title; it embodies the spirit and unity of the Yoruba people, cutting across all Yoruba descendants in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Cuba, Brazil, America, the UK, and even in Caribbean countries.”
The prominent sons and daughters of Oduduwa also stated clearly that any title that has Oodua transcends the six Southwest states, often referred to as Yorubaland.
Similarly, the Oduduwa descendants expressed gratitude to the Alaafin for issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the chieftaincy title.
They remarked, “This has been a joy in disguise for Sanusi, making the title more popular than ever,” noting that Sanusi has become the talk of the town, with discussions about him flourishing across various social media platforms.
“We appreciate the attention this has brought to our heritage and the Okanlomo title.
“Now that the 48-hour ultimatum has elapsed, the court of public opinion expects that the controversy stemmed from the issue has died naturally. “
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