By Abiola Olawale
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, formally mended recent tensions and established a collaborative framework for regional progress.
The reconciliation took place on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Lagos during a high-profile meeting convened by billionaire businessman, Sir Dr. Kessington Adebutu.
The sit-down was held at the Eko Hotel on the sidelines of Adebutu’s 90th birthday celebration.
In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, both monarchs announced the formation of the joint council for Yoruba unity.
The communiqué was signed by the Ooni and Alaafin, witnessed by Adebutu, and issued by Kola Oyefeso, secretary of the communiqué drafting committee.
The meeting of the monarchs was described as a turning point in Yoruba history.
“Today marks a defining chapter in our shared history,” the communiqué reads.
“We reaffirm our dedication to promoting harmony among all Yoruba sons and daughters, and upholding the sacred values of mutual respect and brotherhood handed down by our ancestors.”
The gathering was attended by traditional rulers, cultural custodians, and prominent Yoruba leaders, who discussed reconciliation, cooperation, and inter-kingdom relations.
The Ooni and Alaafin jointly offered prayers for peace, prosperity, and progress across Yorubaland, Nigeria, and the African continent.
Adebutu expressed delight at the renewed royal bond, describing it as “a milestone that will consolidate peace, unity, and development among the Yoruba people”.
The New Diplomat reports that the development comes after tension erupted between Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo over the conferment of the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” title on businessman Dotun Sanusi by the Ooni.
Following the conferment, the Alaafin had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni revoke the title.
In response, the Ooni’s media team dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” saying the monarch would not dignify it with a formal response.
