It is against the spirit of the recent visit of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to traditional rulers in Yorubaland. Ooni’s visit to Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedokun Aremu Gbadebo, was in continuation of his move to unify all traditional rulers in Yorubaland, which had taken him round major royal fathers in Yorubaland. The seeming rancour between the Alake and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, should be nipped in the bud now, whatever it will take. Awujale had on Thursday declared that from history and available records, the Alake is a junior traditional ruler in Yorubaland. He spoke during the launching of the Endowment Fund of a professorial chair in Government in his name to the Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. He said the Alake only ranks with his peers in Ijebuland like the Dagburewe of Idowu and Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife among others. Awujale obviously took umbrage at Alake over comments credited to the latter when Ooni of Ife visited him in his palace.
The Alake had listed the big five Yoruba traditional rulers as Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, himself Alake and Awujale. But the surprisingly thing is that whereas the Awujale had also indicated that the Alake had denied the same statement credited to him in his recent discussion with himself Awujale and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Awujale had again moved to chastise Alake and put him down, claiming he had expected Alake to issue a rebuttal but that the royal father did not. This is not time to further take issues with any of the big royal fathers over the matter, genuine Yoruba leaders must move in now to put an end to brewing discord. It should not be allowed to fester or awake the age-long rivalry between the Egba and Ijebu. Wise counsel should be allowed now!
