The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, is preparing to confer the traditional title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to a flyer referenced by IntelRegion, the ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, December 21, 2025.
In the same event, former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, will be installed as Obaloyin of Yorubaland.
These appointments will mark the first traditional titles awarded by Oba Owoade since he ascended the throne as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in April 2025.
The development follows months of tension between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on businessman Dotun Sanusi in Ibadan.
In April, the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum, demanding that the Ooni revoke the title, describing the conferment as an “affront” and asserting his exclusive authority over all title bestowals across Yorubaland. He cited a Supreme Court ruling supporting his sole prerogative in such matters.
The Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” stating on Facebook, “We cannot dignify the undignifiable with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion.”
Following the dispute, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, clarified that the monarch’s actions were not aimed at asserting supremacy over other rulers but were intended to protect the sanctity of Yoruba traditions.
The ceremony raises questions about the nature of traditional titles today. Are they still awarded based on merit and service to the community, or influenced by other factors? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
