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Breaking News: Olubadan-Designate Ladoja: The Alaafin Cannot Go to Ile-Ife to Rule, Just as the Ooni Cannot Rule in Oyo
The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has said that the persistent rivalry among Yoruba traditional rulers is being fuelled more by their followers than the monarchs themselves.
Oba Ladoja made the remark on Thursday at his Bodija residence in Ibadan during a courtesy visit from the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, and his wife.
He described the perceived supremacy tussle between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, as a product of divisive narratives pushed by supporters.
“I have always made it clear that neither the Ooni nor the Alaafin is responsible for the disunity we see. It is their supporters who, in trying to justify historical claims, end up fuelling discord. They forget that history is often subjective,” Ladoja said.
He urged the Yoruba people to rise above historical disputes and focus instead on peace, unity, and the development of Yorubaland.
According to him, “The Alaafin cannot go to Ile-Ife to rule, just as the Ooni cannot rule in Oyo. Each monarch reigns in his own domain.”
Comparing the situation to international relations, Ladoja said: “The type of history their supporters reference is like Britain’s colonisation of America – a past that no longer defines the present. Today, if America sneezes, Britain catches a cold.”
Reflecting on Ibadan’s historical influence, the Olubadan-designate stressed that Ibadan had played a decisive role in shaping Yoruba traditional institutions.
“Without Ibadan’s influence, most Yoruba monarchs might have ended up bearing titles like ‘Emir’. But our concern now is not just preserving history, but modernising Ibadanland and building on the legacy of the old Ibadan Empire,” he stated.