The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Osun State, has expressed worry that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, may be under a spell following repeated clashes between the two frontline Yoruba monarchs.
The President of the group, Oluseyi Atanda, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said members of the association may need to perform rituals to settle the disputes between the monarchs.
Atanda, who is a gynaecologist, lamented that the two kings, both identified with the traditional religion, could find themselves in such a needless quarrel.
He said, “The two monarchs are traditionalists. We are from the same father. What could have caused the fight? May we not be under spell in Yorubaland. What is happening could be a spell from some people who don’t want the Yoruba race to unite.
“What is happening can turn into a serious crisis; before you know it, some Yoruba monarchs will be queuing behind Alaafin and others will align with Ooni, and there will be a crisis.”
When asked if he meant that Alaafin and Ooni were under a spell, Atanda responded, “It can be a spell. What is the reason for the quarrel? Both kings are wealthy, influential and exposed.”
The hostilities between the monarchs resurfaced on Monday after the Alaafin faulted Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on a businessman, Dotun Sanusi.
Oba Ogunwusi had bestowed the title during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 16.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences,” arguing that no traditional ruler other than him had the authority to confer a title covering the entire Yorubaland.
But Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, said Oba Ogunwusi had directed him to ignore the Alaafin’s outburst and leave the matter “in the court of public opinion.”
Read also: Chieftaincy title: Ooni of Ife snubs Alaafin’s 48-hour ultimatum
Also commenting, a popular poet and Ifa priest, Ifayemi Elebuibon, described the renewed feud as needless, noting that traditionalists had been offering sacrifices for peace to reign in Yorubaland.
The Araba of Osogbo told Saturday PUNCH, “We are trying to resolve a matter, but somebody is frustrating the efforts (a n je ekuru k’tan, enikan tun gbonwo re s’awo). I wasn’t expecting what is happening. The two monarchs are cool-headed; they are frontline Yoruba monarchs representing the race across the world. If the two of them are exchanging words, it is a disgrace to every Yoruba.
“What should be paramount to them should be the development of the Yoruba race, not a supremacy battle. What are we going to gain from a supremacy battle? Some people are fanning the ember of discord, but the two monarchs should be above board. Criminals from other races are killing our people and trying to occupy our land, yet what we have is a supremacy battle from our monarchs. That shouldn’t be. God will settle everything. We are praying and offering sacrifices.”
