Oduduwa News

The recent statement credited to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, demanding that the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, revoke the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland within 48 hours, is not only disturbing but utterly uncalled for. As a bona fide son of Yoruba land, one who honours and reveres the sacred traditions of our forefathers, I find it necessary to condemn this statement in its entirety.

Tradition, Respect, and Yoruba Heritage

The Yoruba civilization is one of the most sophisticated and ancient in Africa. It thrives on a culture of respect, honour, and collective heritage. In this cultural arrangement, the Ooni of Ife occupies a unique position, not only as the custodian of Ile-Ife—the cradle of the Yoruba race—but also as a co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria alongside the Sultan of Sokoto. To issue an ultimatum to such a revered institution is to undermine not just the person of the Ooni, but the heritage and unity of the Yoruba nation.

A Misstep That Threatens Unity

For centuries, Yoruba monarchs have played complementary roles in ensuring peace, stability, and continuity of our traditions. The Alaafin of Oyo himself is highly respected as a titan and cultural symbol. However, to demand a revocation of a title bestowed by the Ooni is an affront to Yoruba unity. Yoruba land does not belong to one palace or one king—it belongs to all of us, the sons and daughters of Oduduwa.

Rather than issuing threats and ultimatums, what Yoruba people need today is synergy among our royal fathers to address the challenges of insecurity, moral decadence, and socio-economic marginalization. Supremacy battles only weaken us before the eyes of the world.

The Title Okanlomo of Yorubaland Has Come to Stay

Engineer Dotun Sanusi, the worthy recipient of the title Okanlomo of Yorubaland, is a son of the soil whose contributions to the growth and progress of Yoruba land cannot be denied. Recognizing such a man with a befitting chieftaincy title should be a source of pride, not controversy. Once the Ooni has spoken, Ase ni Oba ma pa. The title has come to stay; no threats or ultimatums can diminish its value.

A Call to Alaafin: Thread Softly

I therefore call on the Alaafin to tread the path of wisdom and peace. Our ancestors did not labour to hand us a legacy of disunity. Yoruba land belongs to all of us, and our monarchs must rise above rivalry to provide leadership, stability, and inspiration to the younger generation.

History will not remember who won supremacy battles. History will remember who built bridges, who united the land, and who ensured that the Yoruba nation took its rightful place in Nigeria and the world.

By: A Yoruba Son Committed to Unity, Peace, and Honour of Tradition

Ayeni Oluwaseun Samuel

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has presented a brand new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to renowned gospel singer and media entrepreneur, Dr. Yinka Ayefele.

The presentation which took place in Ibadan, was in recognition of Ayefele’s immense contributions to the state through music, broadcasting, and humanitarian services.

This gesture came days after the fire outbreak that resulted to loss of valuable items at the radio station.

Governor Makinde commended Ayefele for his resilience, talent, and dedication, describing him as a source of inspiration to millions within and outside Oyo State. He added that the gesture was a token of appreciation for Ayefele’s impact in promoting culture, entertainment, and economic growth in the state.

Responding, Ayefele expressed profound gratitude to the governor, noting that the gift would further encourage him to continue serving humanity through his music and media platform, Fresh FM.

The presentation has since generated excitement among Ayefele’s fans and the entertainment community, with many praising the governor’s recognition of creative talents.

The Olukosi of Ilukosi-Ijesa, Oba Omotooyosi Bayo Akinleye, has cautioned the Alaafin of Oyo against extending his authority beyond Oyo State in the ongoing chieftaincy tussle involving the Ooni of Ife.

Speaking on the controversy, the Olukosi stressed that the Alaafin’s powers are limited to Oyo, while reaffirming the Ooni of Ife’s position as the spiritual head of the Yoruba people. According to him, traditional rulers must respect their boundaries to avoid unnecessary conflict.

The statement follows the Alaafin’s recent 48-hour ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of the title “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” conferred by the Ooni on a businessman. The directive has sparked criticism from Yoruba leaders and traditional stakeholders, who urged peaceful resolution of the matter.

Oba Akinleye reiterated that while the Alaafin remains highly revered within Oyo, the Ooni’s spiritual influence and authority transcend territorial boundaries, serving as a unifying symbol for all Yorubas.

The development adds another dimension to the age-long rivalry between the two historic thrones, highlighting the delicate balance of power in Yoruba traditional leadership.

Governments of Oyo, Osun, and Ogun States have declared Wednesday, August 20, 2025, a public holiday to mark this year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day, a celebration of Yoruba traditional religion and culture.

In separate statements, the states noted that the holiday would allow traditional religion adherents and the wider public to meaningfully observe the occasion.

Osun, which first declared the holiday in 2014, reaffirmed its commitment under Governor Ademola Adeleke, while Oyo and Ogun also endorsed the celebration as part of efforts to preserve cultural heritage.

The annual Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day honors Yoruba deities and traditions, promoting cultural inclusivity and the recognition of indigenous practices across the Southwest.

Nigerian billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has revealed why he dropped out of school and never pursued a university degree. In his newly released memoir, Making It Big, Otedola disclosed that he struggled academically from childhood, often finishing at the bottom of his class despite attending good schools.

After completing Lower Sixth at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, he chose not to return for his final year, abandoning formal education altogether. His decision, he explained, stemmed from a deep fascination with his father’s printing press, where he became immersed in learning the trade.

Otedola soon took up full-time work at Impact Press, his father’s company, where he mastered shorthand, typing, and business correspondence. By the age of 25, he rose to become Managing Director of the firm, marking the beginning of his journey into entrepreneurship.

According to him, while academics did not favor him, his passion for practical business laid the foundation for his later success in the oil, energy, and investment sectors.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has rejected the outcome of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Fola Oyekunle, was declared winner with 18,404 votes against APC’s Adewale Olatunji who polled 8,312.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party alleged that the election was marred by vote-buying, intimidation of voters, and collusion between PDP operatives, electoral officials, and security agents.

APC leaders described the result as unacceptable and vowed to seek redress, warning that such practices undermine democracy. Meanwhile, political analysts have described the defeat as a wake-up call for APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the party to strengthen its grassroots appeal in Oyo State.

A fresh row has erupted between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the title “Okanlomo of Yorubaland.”

The Alaafin, in a strong statement, faulted the Ooni for bestowing the pan-Yoruba title on businessman Sanusi ‘Ilaji,’ describing the action as inappropriate and against tradition. He subsequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to withdraw the title or face consequences.

The development has heightened tension within Yorubaland as both monarchs are regarded as leading custodians of Yoruba culture and tradition. Observers fear the dispute may deepen existing rivalries among first-class traditional rulers if not quickly resolved.

A domestic flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025, ended in chaos after a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, accused a flight attendant of assault, humiliation, and causing severe emotional trauma.

According to a video obtained by Oduduwa News and shared by Comfort Emmanson, the altercation began before takeoff when the flight hostess, identified as Juliana, confronted her over switching off her phones.

“I was trying to put one of my phones on flight mode when she came to me and insisted I must switch it off. I explained that the second phone was faulty. A man beside me helped switch one off while I struggled with the faulty one. I even asked her to help me, but she refused. When she was leaving, she said, ‘You will see,’” Emmanson said in the video.

Trouble, according to her, began after the plane landed in Lagos. “I went to use the toilet on the plane. When I came out and tried to pick up my luggage to disembark, Juliana stopped me for no reason. I told her to let me pass but she ignored me, so I started recording on my phone. When she realized I had recorded her, she pushed me back inside the plane, dragged my frontal, my clothes, my jewelry, and even broke my phones.”

Emmanson further claimed the confrontation quickly turned physical. “The pain from my frontal being pulled got me angry, so I poked my fingers at her face and asked why she did that. She then started calling me a prostitute,” she alleged.

She also alleged that other airport staff later joined in, dragging her out of the aircraft while recording her. “She pulled my clothes, exposing my body. They surrounded me, dragged me out, and all of them were recording. Those videos are now on social media. I am traumatized and ashamed to go out because everyone has seen my body. They even made it into WhatsApp stickers,” she lamented.

The distraught passenger said the incident has left her battling emotional and professional setbacks. “I don’t know how to face customers knowing my body is out there. How will I get married? My unborn kids will see this. My reputation is gone. I am not a troublemaker. I am still rounding up treatment from the hospital,” she said tearfully.

The Omoluabi Progressives has alleged a coordinated plot to assassinate former Osun State Governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

In a statement, the group cited recent threats from activists and journalists, as well as disruptions of political events, as evidence of a growing campaign to silence the former governor. They described the situation as part of “assassination politics” and warned that any attempt on his life would not be tolerated.

The group called on security agencies to act swiftly to protect Aregbesola and safeguard his constitutional rights.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Princess Adesola Ayoola Elegbeji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Remo Federal Constituency bye-election in Ogun State.

Announcing the result at the collation centre in Ikenne, the Returning Officer, Professor Kazeem Olajide Bello, said Elegbeji polled 41,237 votes to defeat her closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 14,324 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) managed only 289 votes.

The APC’s victory covered all three local government areas in the constituency—Ikenne, Remo North, and Sagamu.

The bye-election followed the death of the former representative, Otunba Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (Ijaya), in January 2025.

INEC declared that Elegbeji, having fulfilled all legal requirements and secured the highest number of valid votes, is duly elected as the new member representing Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.