Ifa Priest and cultural and traditional icon, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, has identified the Ooni of Ife as the supreme traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

He made this declaration during an interview following the rekindling of the age-old supremacy battle between the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, with the Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade, questioning the authority of the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to confer chieftaincy titles on individuals across Yorubaland.

The Ifa priest said, “Ordinarily, no Oba in Yoruba land should be in contention with the Ooni for supremacy; it is for them all to respect the throne as the father of all and the most superior among the race. But what is happening now is like a child disrespecting his father.”

On steps that could be taken to harmonise the roles of both thrones to promote peace, cooperation, and cultural pride among the Yoruba, Elebuibon said, “First, those very close to the Alaafin throne, fanning the embers of war, should know this regular supremacy battle is not in the interest of the Yoruba race globally. It is not a must that Alaafin Abimbola follow the foot path of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi over the revered Ooni throne.”

He added, “The two prominent traditional rulers must also come to realise that the progress and development of the Yoruba race must be more important than any supremacy battle; they must prioritise unity between them to endear unity among all the other traditional rulers cum Yorubaland. What is happening now brings embarrassment to the Yoruba people at home and in the diaspora.

“Also, I want to appeal to the group called Oyo Legacy to slow down; there is no need for two different kings to take the same routes.
“I know Oba Abimbola and Ooni Ogunwusi; they are both progressive-minded, and hence, they must work together for the development of their people, not divide them more.
“The two of them know what is expected of them on the throne; they went through their rites properly and many things were spelt out for them, they know the right things to do; the busy bodies around them need to allow peace to reign.”

Before the colonial era, Elebuibon disclosed that the dual roles of both influential monarchs had never resulted in any form of supremacy war.

“Ile-Ife is the source from which every other throne derived authority, while Oyo was the political source from which the frontiers of the Yoruba territory expanded. The rivalry has its source in the colonial political intervention in Yoruba and the deliberate efforts to change the tradition of Yoruba as a race,” he noted

Tracing the origins of the supremacy battle between the Ooni and the Alaafin within Yoruba history and traditions, the Araba Ifayemi stated that the supremacy battle between the two thrones or monarchs has no connection to Yoruba tradition or history.
For him, “the relationship between the Ooni and Alaafin is like that of a father to a child, and a child does not disrespect his father, traditionally.

“But like I said, the advent of the colonialist and later the political class gave birth to the current situation. The Ooni, as a father, was blessed with many sons, among whom was the Oranmiyan, who became the Alafin and was very powerful. He expanded the kingdom to the status of an Empire, but that does not make him superior to his father.

“Because the colonialists made a treaty with the Alaafin does not make him superior over the Ooni; it is the white man’s way of creating division within the race. But according to Yoruba tradition, Ooni is the most superior among Yoruba traditional rulers,” he stated.