The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, on Thursday reaffirmed his historical supremacy in Yorubaland, claiming that the British colonial government recognised the Alaafin as the superior head of the Yoruba Nation.

This assertion came amid renewed tension with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, following the Ooni’s conferment of the title Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi during the unveiling of the 2geda media networking platform at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan, last weekend.

Reacting to the development, the Alaafin, in an earlier statement by his Director of Media, Bode Durojaye, had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to withdraw the chieftaincy title or face “the consequences.” The ultimatum expired on Wednesday without any response from the Ooni’s palace.

In a fresh statement on Thursday, Oba Owoade went historical, insisting that the Alaafin remains the foremost monarch in Yoruba history and culture.

“Oyo rose to prominence through trade, military strength, and diplomacy. It became the largest West African empire and the most authoritative of the early Yoruba principalities. The British, as was their practice, recognised lineage as meaningful supremacy and legitimacy, signing the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation,” the statement read.

The Alaafin stressed that he had no interest in engaging in a supremacy battle with any monarch, adding that he had sworn before his ancestors to uphold Yoruba culture, defend its traditions, and add glamour to its heritage.

The statement further described the Alaafin as “a veritable custodian of Yoruba tradition, combining humility with royalty to meet modern-day demands” and highlighted his spiritual role as “Alashe, Ekeji Orisa,” believed to embody ancestral connections with deities such as Ifa and Sango.

Meanwhile, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, appealed for calm among Yoruba people worldwide, urging supporters of both monarchs to stop fuelling the controversy through the media.

He dismissed the matter as unnecessary speculation, noting that both the Alaafin and Ooni are not interested in dragging the issue.

“The Ooni remains Ooni, and the Alaafin remains Alaafin. There is no supremacy battle,” he said, stressing that Yoruba culture is built on peace, unity, and respect for traditional institutions.

In a related development, socio-cultural group Think Yoruba First (TYF) warned against what it described as cultural defamation and historical distortion of Yoruba civilisation.

At a press conference in Ibadan, TYF’s Lead Legal Consultant, Mr. Oluwatobi Sanwo, criticised claims in a recently published academic book that suggested Yoruba were immigrants in Ile-Ife and that another empire existed before it.

Sanwo condemned the assertions as “intellectual dishonesty, cultural defamation, and potential ethnic provocation,” stressing that Ile-Ife remains the globally recognised cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

The association urged Yoruba people to remain united in defence of their heritage and called on government, universities, and international cultural bodies to support indigenous research and protect authentic African histories.

“Yoruba history is sacred, Ile-Ife non-negotiable, and identity indivisible,” Sanwo declared.