The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, on Thursday attributed the ongoing supremacy dispute between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, not to the monarchs themselves but to their followers.
Receiving the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, and his wife on a courtesy visit at his Bodija residence in Ibadan, Oba Ladoja expressed concern over the situation and urged supporters of both traditional rulers to redirect their energies toward the development of Yorubaland instead of stirring conflict.
“I have always made people realise that neither the Ooni of Ife nor the Alaafin of Oyo is promoting disunity but their respective followers. These are the people who are trying to justify history, having forgotten the fact that history, most times, can be subjective. Alaafin cannot go to Ile-Ife and rule over the people there, and vice versa. The Ooni of Ife also has his own territory where he operates,” he said.
The Olubadan-designate likened the rivalry to colonial history, noting that references made by supporters are outdated.
“The kind of history their supporters are making reference to is like that of Britain colonising America. That was in the past. Today, if America sneezes, the entire Britain will catch cold,” he added.
On Ibadan’s role in Yoruba history, Oba Ladoja emphasized the city’s historical significance.
“The position of Ibadan on this matter is well documented in history. Without the influence of Ibadan, the traditional title of the entire Obas in Yoruba land would have been ‘Emir’. We are not talking about Ibadan’s place in history now, but about modernising what is left of the former Ibadan Empire. We have commenced the process of modernisation, and all traditional rulers, including Baales and Mogajis, have critical roles to play.”
Highlighting the need for security and accountability, Oba Ladoja insisted that traditional rulers must reside in their communities.
“First and foremost, we must ensure adequate security. All Baales and Mogajis must have buildings in their respective domains. The era of diaspora Mogajis and Baales is over. If there is a breach of security in any community, the Baales and Mogajis will be held accountable,” he declared.
Oba Ladoja also sought the Olugbon’s support in fostering unity among Yoruba monarchs, describing the experience as invaluable.
In response, Oba Alao hailed Oba Ladoja’s ascension as historic, not just for Oyo State but for Nigeria as a whole. “We have made history today, not only in Oyo State but across Nigeria, with the ascension of the former governor and senator to the throne of Olubadan. His emergence is a blessing to the Oyo State Traditional Council. It is an added value for us to have a monarch with such wealth of experience,” he said.
The Olugbon pledged loyalty and support, emphasizing cooperation among traditional rulers as key to socio-economic development.
“I have assured Baba of my support during our telephone conversation. Oba Ladoja, as an entrepreneur, will fast-track the socio-economic growth of the state. With my consultation with other monarchs in the state, they have all agreed to work with him. Our roles as traditional rulers are advisory, not executive. By so doing, we will work with the government and stakeholders to develop our respective domains. The development of our respective domains should be our priority because we are the closest to the people,” he added.