Lifestyle
Only Oyo Throne Can Confer Yorubaland Titles, Says Alaafin
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has stated that he is the only traditional ruler with the authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.”
The monarch made the assertion on Sunday at the Aganju Forecourt of the Oyo Palace during the installation of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland, and Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
Owoade said chieftaincy in Yoruba tradition is neither ornamental nor granted as a favour, but a serious responsibility rooted in history, authority and service.
According to him, the Oyo throne has historically functioned as a central coordinating authority for the Yoruba people, a role that was recognised during the colonial era and sustained in post-independence governance.
He explained that titles carrying the name “Yorubaland” are collective in nature, representing the entire Yoruba nation rather than any single town or kingdom.
The monarch, therefore, stated that any ‘Yorubaland’ title must be conferred by an authority whose jurisdiction historically spans the whole region.
The Alaafin noted that this position has been validated by colonial records, post-independence councils, scholarly works and judicial pronouncements, including decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Describing the newly installed titles as positions of trust, Oba Owoade said they demand courage, loyalty and selfless service to the Yoruba people, adding that such honours are intended to strengthen unity and respect for tradition across Yorubaland.
He urged the new titleholders to discharge their duties with humility and ensure that their roles promote dignity, cohesion and the collective good of the Yoruba people.
He said, “We are gathered here today for a purpose that goes beyond celebration. We are here to witness history and to place responsibility where tradition has long placed it. Chieftaincy, in our culture, is not an act of favour. It is not decoration. It is a duty, conferred only when history, authority, and responsibility align.
“From the earliest organisation of the Yoruba people, authority was never vague. Our forebears understood structure. This understanding gave Yorubaland stability long before modern governance arrived.
“The throne of Oyo emerged in that history as a coordinating authority, by responsibility. When colonial administration came, it did not invent this reality; it encountered it and recorded it. By 1914, Oyo Province had become the largest province in Southern Nigeria, covering 14,381 square miles. It was bounded in the north by Ilorin and Kontagora, in the east by Ondo and Ijebu, in the south by Ijebu and Abeokuta, and in the west by French Dahomey. This reflected recognised leadership over a wide and diverse space.
“This history explains why certain chieftaincy titles are different in nature. Titles that bear the name ‘Yorubaland’ are not local titles. They are collective titles. They speak not for one town or one kingdom, but for the Yoruba people as a whole. Such titles must therefore proceed from an authority whose reach, by history and by law, extends across Yorubaland.
“Today, I do not speak to provoke debate. I speak to state order. Among the Yoruba, authority has never been a matter of assumption or convenience. It has always been a matter of history, structure, and law. Thrones were not created equal in function, even though all are sacred in dignity.
“From the earliest organisation of Yorubaland, the Alaafin of Oyo occupied a central and coordinating authority—an authority that extended beyond the walls of Oyo and into the collective political life of the Yoruba people. This was not self-declared. It was recognised, enforced, and sustained across generations. Colonial records acknowledged it. Post-independence councils preserved it. Scholars documented it.
“And finally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed it. The law is clear. History is settled. Chieftaincy titles that bear the name Yorubaland—titles whose meaning, influence, and obligation are not confined to a single town or kingdom—fall under a singular, established authority. That authority is the throne of Oyo.”
Lifestyle
Ooni Congratulates Prince Adekanmbi As Oniko-Elect
The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II has congratulated Prince Sunday Adekanmbi Olayode Asinloye II on his emergence as the Oniko-Elect of Ikolaje Idiriko Kingdom in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Prince Adekanmbi was elected and formally appointed as the Oniko-Elect on 10th February, 2026, by the Ikolaje Idiriko Council of Kingmakers, following due traditional processes and consultations in line with the customs of the ancient kingdom.
In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni described the emergence of Prince Adekanmbi as a testament to divine favour and the collective will of his people.
According to the statement, the Ooni commended the kingmakers for conducting a peaceful and credible selection process, noting that the stability of traditional institutions remains vital to cultural preservation and grassroots development across Yorubaland.
The Ooni urged the Oniko-Elect to embrace humility, wisdom and inclusiveness in the discharge of his royal duties, stressing that the throne is a sacred trust that demands selfless service, integrity and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people.
He further prayed for divine guidance, long life and a peaceful reign for Prince Adekanmbi, expressing confidence that his ascension would usher in a new era of unity, growth and prosperity for Ikolaje Idiriko Kingdom.
The Ooni also reaffirmed the importance of synergy among traditional rulers in Ogun State and beyond, emphasising the need for collaboration in promoting peace, security and socio-economic advancement within their respective domains.
Signed,
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace,
Ile-Ife.
Lifestyle
Watch: Trending Video Of Gen. Diya Crying, Begging Late General Sani Abacha Surfaces Online
Former Ogun State Leader, General Oladipo Diya, grovelling at General Sani Abacha’s feet, crying and begging the late Head Of State over the 1997 coup allegation.
Gen. Diya was crossed examined at the Human Rights Violation Commission (HRVIC) on the coup plan 1997 to overthrow Gen. Sanni Abacha. He bluntly denied the fact that he was part of the plan but he admitted he knew about the plan.
He further explained that he was afraid of being killed by the Coup Master Planner if he revealed the plan. He denied pleading with Gen. Sanni Abacha but was shocked to see the video where he truly knelt down before Gen. Sanni Abacha as tendered by the Lawyer.
Gen. Diya Oladipo then was appointed as Chief of Defense Staff. He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994. In 1997 Diya and dissident soldiers in the military allegedly planned to overthrow the regime of Sani Abacha.
The alleged coup was uncovered by forces loyal to Abacha, and Diya and his cohorts were jailed. Diya was tried in a military tribunal and was given the death penalty. pon the untimely death of Abacha in 1998, Diya was pardoned by the late Head of State’s successor, Abdusalami Abubakar.
Below is a leaked video clip
Lifestyle
BREAKING!!! Panic As Tinubu Collapses And Fall In Turkey [VIDEO]
A video has emerged showing the moment President Bola Ahmed Tinubu momentarily tripped during his state visit to Turkey, according to Naija News.
Naija News reports that President Tinubu had on Monday arrived Ankara, the capital of Turkey for a state visit.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit to Turkiye is aimed at deepening cooperation in key sectors including security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.
Onanuga noted that the trip follows an earlier official visit to Nigeria by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan between October 19 and 20, 2021, which reinforced diplomatic ties between Abuja and Ankara.
During President Tinubu’s visit, both countries are expected to hold strategic political and diplomatic engagements focused on shared interests in finance, communication, trade, and investment.
The programme will also feature meetings between senior government officials from both nations, alongside the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration, and protocol.
A business forum will be held on the sidelines of the visit, bringing together Nigerian and Turkish investors to explore opportunities for mutual economic growth, the presidency noted.
Members of the President’s delegation participating in the bilateral engagements include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson.
Others on the entourage are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
Culled from Naija News
-
Politics2 days agoAssembly Confirms Popular Redeemed Pastor As Deputy Governor
-
Foreign2 days agoCabinet Reshuffle: President Sacks Finance Minister
-
Business2 days agoJUST IN: 13 Banks May Shut Down In March As CBN Confirms 20 Safe For Recapitalisation Deadline
-
Politics9 hours agoBREAKING: “Serial Disrespect” Sparks Drama As Senate Order Arrest Of Tinubu’s Appointee
-
Politics10 hours agoOpposition Leaders Urge N’Assembly To Begin Fresh Electoral Act Amendment
-
Opinion9 hours agoEdo State To Spend N1billion On Armoured Car For Speaker, N4.6billion On Vehicles For Lawmakers
