In contrast, the Alaafin ruled the mighty Oyo Empire, wielding political and military might that expanded Yoruba influence across West Africa.
This duality—Ooni as sacred guardian versus Alaafin as imperial executor—has fueled rivalry for generations, tracing back to Oranmiyan, Oduduwa’s grandson, who founded both thrones but left Ife as the spiritual source and Oyo as the secular powerhouse.

Historians note that while the Ooni’s role is ancestral and unifying, the Alaafin’s was expansionist, leading to periodic clashes over supremacy.
The modern chapter intensified in the post-independence era, particularly under Alaafin Adeyemi III (r. 1971–2022) and Ooni Okunade Sijuwade (r. 1980–2015), who inherited and amplified the tensions.

A flashpoint emerged in the 1980s within the old Oyo State (encompassing today’s Oyo and Osun), where the Ooni held permanent chairmanship of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, reflecting Ife’s “birthright.”
Adeyemi, viewing this as a slight to Oyo’s legacy, allegedly instigated a protest by rallying other monarchs, including the Olubadan of Ibadan.
The Olubadan, then a key figure in Ibadan’s influential sphere, played a pivotal role by joining the call for rotational leadership, framing it as a push for equity among major obas like the Alaafin, Olubadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso.

This alliance, documented in media like TELL magazine, challenged the Ooni’s permanence and led to lawsuits against Governor Bola Ige.
The Olubadan’s involvement wasn’t mere obedience; it reflected Ibadan’s historical autonomy, born from 19th-century migrations and wars that positioned it as a counterweight to Oyo’s empire.
Yet, Adeyemi’s strategy backfired spectacularly. Ooni Sijuwade boycotted the council in protest, creating a stalemate that persisted until 1991, when Osun State was carved out.

Post-split, the Ooni secured permanent chairmanship in Osun, while Adeyemi claimed it in Oyo—only to face internal challenges later. Fast-forward to today, and the ghosts of that 1980s protest haunt Oyo’s council.

On January 15, 2026, Makinde inaugurated the revived council at Ibadan’s House of Chiefs Hall, with Olubadan Oba Rashidi Ladoja emerging as the first chair.
The Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade, was notably absent, later issuing a statement denying any consultation or endorsement of the rotation.

“There was no time that His Imperial Majesty… held any meeting with either the State Governor or any of the two traditional rulers,” the palace declared.
Tensions boiled over at the 2026 Inter-Faith Gathering, where the Olubadan allegedly snubbed the Alaafin’s outstretched hand, greeting Governor Makinde and others instead—leaving the Alaafin embarrassed.

Eyewitnesses and social media erupted, with some calling it a deliberate slight amid the chairmanship row.
The incident echoes broader Yoruba debates, including 2025 clashes where the Alaafin challenged the Ooni’s conferment of titles like “Okanlomo of Yorubaland,” issuing ultimatums and invoking supremacy.

As Yoruba leaders call for unity, this saga warns that unchecked rivalries could fracture the cultural fabric—proving that in the game of thrones, history doesn’t just repeat; it retaliates.