Alaafin of Oyo.webp
The Digest:

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has asserted that only the throne of Oyo holds the historic and legal authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.”

KeyPoints:
  • The Alaafin of Oyo stated that titles covering “Yorubaland” must originate from the Oyo throne due to its historical coordinating role.
  • He made the declaration while installing Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari as Obaloyin and Barrister Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
  • Oba Owoade emphasized that chieftaincy is a duty of responsibility, not a decorative favor.
  • He cited colonial records, post-independence councils, scholarly works, and Supreme Court rulings as affirming this authority.
  • The monarch explained that “Yorubaland” titles are collective, representing all Yoruba people, not individual towns.
  • He described the new titles as positions of trust requiring courage, loyalty, and service to the people.
  • The Alaafin urged the titleholders to serve with humility and promote the unity and dignity of Yorubaland.
This pronouncement reinforces the Alaafin’s role as a central pillar in Yoruba tradition, a reminder that in culture, as in governance, authority is rooted in history, recognized by law, and sustained by the weight of collective memory.

Sources: Nigerian Tribune, PM News