The recent conferment of chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” has sparked intense debate among Yoruba leaders, with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, asserting that only the Oyo throne has the authority to bestow such honours.

Speaking at the installation of Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari as Obaloyin of Yorubaland and Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland, the Alaafin emphasized that these titles carry historical, legal, and social responsibilities, not mere prestige. He traced the Oyo throne’s authority to the earliest political organization of the Yoruba, highlighting its recognized role as a coordinating power extending beyond Oyo town.

“Titles that bear the name ‘Yorubaland’ are collective titles. They speak not for one town or kingdom but for the Yoruba people as a whole. Such titles must therefore proceed from an authority whose reach, by history and law, extends across Yorubaland,” he said.

However, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere challenged the claim, describing it as legally untenable and historically deceptive. Afenifere’s Organizing Secretary, Kole Omololu, argued that under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, traditional rulers’ authority is confined to their states, and no monarch exercises jurisdiction beyond their territorial limits. He also dismissed references to the Oyo Empire or alleged Supreme Court recognition as misleading.

Adding to the debate, High Ifa Priest Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon stated that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, remains the spiritual head and supreme authority over Yorubaland. Elebuibon explained that while the Alaafin historically wielded political power, Yoruba tradition recognizes the Ooni as the ultimate authority, likening the relationship to that of a father and son.

The dispute underscores tensions between historical claims, traditional roles, and contemporary legal frameworks, reigniting conversations about the cultural and political significance of Yoruba chieftaincy titles.