The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, has affirmed that his stool remains the paramount traditional authority in Yorubaland when viewed through historical records. He pointed to the enduring impact of the old Oyo Empire and its contributions to Yoruba civilisation, though he clarified that he is not interested in running any supremacy contest with fellow royal fathers.
Oba Owoade made these remarks during an interview with broadcaster Edmund Obilo on State Affairs, according to Punch. When asked if the Alaafin is the supreme king in the region, the monarch insisted that based on historical reality, the stool occupies the top position. He noted that while he does not fight anyone for supremacy, history clearly places the Alaafin at the forefront.
The royal father's remarks touch on long-standing tensions surrounding traditional authority in the South-West. In August 2025, disagreements surfaced after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, conferred the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan businessman Dotun Sanusi. Through his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin demanded a revocation of the chieftaincy within 48 hours, arguing that only the Alaafin possessed the mandate to confer titles spanning the entirety of Yorubaland. The Ooni's spokesperson, Moses Olafare, later stated that his principal chose to leave the matter to public judgment.
Addressing the past fortunes of the ancient realm, Oba Owoade rejected the idea that the Oyo Empire completely collapsed. Instead, he argued that its authority merely dwindled over time after flourishing between the 14th and 18th centuries. He maintained that the essence of the empire endures, as numerous towns across the South-West trace their roots back to the kingdom.
To celebrate these historical ties, the monarch revealed plans to launch Oyo Empire Day. He explained that the initiative is designed to unite towns connected to the kingdom, preserve Yoruba heritage, and help people in the diaspora link back to their ancestral origins.
However, the Alaafin refused to be drawn into politics concerning the leadership of traditional rulers in Oyo State. Governor Seyi Makinde recently appointed the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to lead the reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs following legal amendments that removed the Alaafin's permanent chairmanship. Oba Owoade, who did not attend the inauguration at the State Secretariat, declined to say whether he was displeased with Ladoja's appointment.
