The Yoruba Leaders of Thought, also known as Egbe Ilosiwaju Yoruba, have appealed to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, to end the recent rift between them, describing the public disagreement as a distraction to the Yoruba people.
The disagreement reportedly resurfaced last week after the Alaafin criticised the Ooni’s decision to confer a chieftaincy title on businessman Dotun Sanusi, sparking renewed tension between the two revered monarchs.
In a statement titled “Time to Sheath the Sword” released on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the group’s National Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and National Secretary, Bayo Aina, urged the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde to step in immediately to broker peace.
Olusi further called for the South-West Council of Obas to establish a standing committee that can swiftly address such disputes before they escalate, warning that the ongoing feud was eroding the dignity of Yoruba traditional institutions.
“We appeal to our royal fathers to end this disagreement without delay. At a time when every hand should be on deck to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one of the most illustrious sons of Yoruba land, it is unfortunate that some of our leaders are fanning the embers of division,” Olusi said.
The group lamented that the conflict had led to the weaponisation of historical narratives, which they said should ordinarily serve as a unifying source of pride and identity. Instead, the age-old accounts are now being used to “ridicule or glorify” one side against the other.
“Rather than promoting unity and progress, these narratives have been turned into tools for discord and resentment. This is saddening, especially when the Yoruba nation should be focused on bridging the technological and developmental gaps that exist between us and the rest of the world,” the statement added.
Despite their concerns, the Yoruba Leaders of Thought commended President Tinubu for appointing Chief Opeyemi Agbaje as the new Chairman of the Pension Commission of Nigeria. They expressed optimism that his leadership would help tackle the growing challenge of old-age poverty by ensuring better management of pension funds and improved access for retirees.
The group concluded by stressing that the Yoruba must rise above distractions and work collectively to safeguard unity, dignity, and development across the region.
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