Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has weighed in on the ongoing debate over supremacy among traditional rulers in Oyo State, saying the era of the Oyo Empire is long past and that today’s monarchs should focus on their contemporary roles. Ajayi argued that the Oyo Empire, like Rome and former British imperial power, belongs to history and should not be seen as a basis for claims of domination by any one king over others in Yorubaland. He said no single traditional ruler, including the Alaafin of Oyo, holds supremacy in modern society and urged all kings to work together to promote peace, unity and development while preserving cultural values.
The comments come amid controversy over the recently inaugurated Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, where the chairmanship is to rotate between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland. The Alaafin’s Palace has denied that Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I was consulted or endorsed the rotational leadership arrangement.
Ajayi’s statement has sparked debate on traditional authority in Yorubaland, with some insisting the Alaafin remains a historically significant figure, even if no longer politically dominant in a modern democratic context. (punchng.com)
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