Ooni of Ife remains supreme in Yorubaland – US-based Scholar

A United States-based academic, Professor Matthew Amusan, has insisted that the Alaafin of Oyo has no cultural or historical basis to claim supremacy over the Ooni of Ife, stressing that the Ooni remains the paramount traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

Amusan, a Professor of Intercultural Communications at Northwestern University, Minnesota, made this known while speaking on Splash 105.5 FM, Ibadan.

He argued that although the Oyo Empire once boasted of military strength, its dominance ended in 1790 when Fulani warriors destroyed its power base, forcing the Oyo people into exile before they eventually resettled in Ago-Oja.

According to him, Ibadan later rose as the strongest military force in Yorubaland and even influenced the selection of Alaafins, making any present-day claim of military superiority by Oyo irrelevant.

“If Oyo is claiming military prowess, then Ibadan should be the one making the claim now. The power the Alaafin is holding onto has been gone since 1790. The Ooni of Ife is the supreme traditional ruler in Yorubaland,” he said.

The scholar recalled that only the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi occasionally challenged the Ooni’s authority, but even he eventually acknowledged the Ooni’s higher status.

He cited an instance in 1989 during General Ibrahim Babangida’s visit to Ibadan when the Alaafin stepped aside to allow the Ooni of Ife to stand next to then Military Governor of Oyo State, Colonel Sasaenia Oresanya.

Amusan emphasized that history and tradition have consistently recognized the Ooni of Ife as the custodian of Yoruba identity and culture, while the Alaafin, though highly respected, does not possess the same level of ancestral authority.

Moving to politics, the professor lamented the state of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo, attributing its decline to the loss of influential leaders such as Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi, and Adebayo Alao-Akala.

He argued that internal wrangling, selfish interests, and lack of visionary leadership have left the party weakened.

On national affairs, Amusan urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration despite current economic hardships, noting that genuine reforms take time to yield results.

He however warned that governance must be people-centered to restore public trust.

He also expressed concern over voter apathy, particularly in the recent Ibadan North bye-election where less than 15 percent of registered voters participated.

According to him, democracy can only thrive when citizens take their civic responsibility seriously, rather than assuming outcomes are predetermined.