I Am the Only Traditional Ruler Empowered to Confer ‘Yorubaland’ Titles – Alaafin
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has declared that he remains the only traditional ruler with the authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.”
The monarch made this assertion on Sunday during the installation of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland, and Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland, at the Aganju Forecourt of the Oyo Palace.
According to the Alaafin, chieftaincy titles in Yoruba culture are not honorary decorations or favours but solemn responsibilities rooted in history, authority and service to the people. He explained that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are collective in nature and represent the entire Yoruba nation, not any single town or kingdom.
Oba Owoade said the throne of Oyo historically functioned as a central coordinating authority for the Yoruba people, a position that predated colonial rule and was later recognised by colonial administrators and sustained after independence.
He noted that this historical authority explains why titles that carry the name “Yorubaland” must be conferred only by an institution whose jurisdiction, by tradition and law, spans the whole region.
The Alaafin said this position has been validated by colonial records, post-independence councils, scholarly works and judicial pronouncements, including decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Tracing the historical reach of Oyo authority, the monarch recalled that by 1914, Oyo Province had become the largest province in Southern Nigeria, covering over 14,000 square miles and stretching across present-day boundaries that included parts of Ondo, Ijebu, Abeokuta, Ilorin and areas bordering French Dahomey.
He stressed that authority among the Yoruba has never been a matter of assumption or convenience but one of structure, history and law, noting that while all thrones are sacred, they were not created equal in function.
Describing the newly installed chieftaincy titles as positions of trust, the Alaafin charged the title holders to discharge their duties with humility, courage and loyalty, and to work towards unity, dignity and the collective good of the Yoruba people.
“We are gathered here not merely to celebrate, but to place responsibility where tradition has long placed it,” the Alaafin said, adding that the law and history are clear and settled on the matter.
Abiodun Ogunrinde is a Linguist and Journalist with considerable years of experience in Print Journalism. He blends creativity with a sense of reporting that addresses public concern and human interests.
