Ooni Of Ife Is The Highest Ranking Of Principal Monarchs In Yorubaland – Alake Of Egbaland

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday declared that the Ooni of Ife remains the highest ranking monarch in Yorubaland. He also identified ego as the root cause of disunity among traditional rulers and people in the South West of the country.

The Alake spoke when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, paid him a courtesy visit at his Ake Palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Ooni, who arrived at the palace about 3.35pm, was received by Oba Gbadebo, the Alake’s wife, Dr. Tokunbo, and the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa. According to the Alake, the Ooni is the highest of the five principal monarchs in Yorubaland and should be accorded the necessary respect. He explained that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had already demonstrated the type of humility expected of all other traditional institutions by his recent visit to Ile-Ife, where he prostrated for the Ooni.

He listed the principal Obas in Yorubaland in order of supremacy to include the Ooni, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Benin, the Alake and the Awujale of Ijebuland. Oba Gbadebo said: “Ooni is one of the five principal Obas in Yorubaland.

The others are in order of the way they are classified on supremacy basis. After the Ooni is the Alaafin. After the Alaafin is the Oba of Benin, after him comes the Alake of Egbaland and the fifth and by no means the last or the least, the Awujale of Ijebuland.

So, it’s our pleasure that you are in our midst today. We are happy to receive you. “You have demonstrated good upbringing already since you started. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came and demonstrated that by prostrating as a man of culture. The papers carried it yesterday.

We are proud that is an Egba man who came to visit the spiritual father of Yorubaland. “Actually there is nothing wrong in terms of unity; it is ego-tripping, what people would think of me, I want to promote my own image.

That is what has been wrong with us all along. Once we stop promoting self-image, there will be unity among us. “Every Oba in Yorubaland has a letter of appointment. Nobody has made you Oba of a place that you have not conquered or you think in terms of conquest. Why must you now call yourself what you are not.

So, as you go along, let this humility be your watchword.” The Alake argued that it had become imperative for the Yoruba to continue to accord due respect to the institution of the Ooni of Ife. He maintained that the reign of Oba Ogunwusi and his various visitations to Yoruba monarchs would engender the desired peace and progress in the region.

He also charged him to do everything within his powers towards rebuilding the communities affected by the Ife-Modakeke communal crisis and ensuring the rehabilitation of the affected families. In his remarks, the Ooni expressed delight at the reception organised for him and restated his commitment towards uniting the Yoruba race. He stressed that love and unity of purpose ought to precede the much demanded progress of Yorubaland.