The age-long rivalry between two of Yorubaland’s most revered stools the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife resurfaced on Monday after the Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, to revoke the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland recently conferred on Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

The development, which has since dominated social media conversations, has reignited debate over traditional supremacy and the historical jurisdictions of the two monarchs.

While the Ooni of Ife has refrained from issuing an official statement, palace sources confirmed that Oba Ogunwusi has opted to “leave the matter to the court of public opinion,” rather than engage in a direct exchange with the Alaafin.

This latest clash draws parallels with a similar dispute more than three decades ago between their predecessors — the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. In 1991, the two first-class monarchs disagreed sharply over the conferment of the Akinrogun of Yorubaland title on then-NRC national chairman, Chief Tom Ikimi.

At the time, Oba Adeyemi had declared the title “spurious and without historical foundation,” while Oba Sijuwade insisted he possessed the authority to confer it, even defying the then Oyo State military governor, Col. AbdulKareem Adisa, who attempted to intervene. The feud escalated to threats of dethronement and fiery exchanges, underscoring the sensitivity of Yoruba traditional politics.

Analysts warn that the latest altercation may reopen old wounds among Yoruba traditional institutions if not carefully managed. Yoruba elders and socio-cultural groups are already calling for restraint and dialogue to prevent a repeat of the 1991 crisis, which at the time required government intervention to de-escalate.

Observers note that the Alaafin’s latest warning not only challenges the legitimacy of the Ooni’s conferment but also revives the long-running debate over who holds ultimate authority in Yorubaland the custodian of Oyo’s imperial legacy or the Ooni, regarded as the spiritual head from Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race.

As both palaces maintain silence on whether reconciliation efforts are underway, Nigerians are left watching closely to see whether this renewed supremacy tussle will cool off or spiral into another historical confrontation.