The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has declared that only the throne of Oyo has the authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.” The monarch made the declaration on Sunday during the installation ceremony of new titleholders at the Aganju Forecourt, Aafin Oyo.
Those installed were former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland, and Barrister Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland. The Alaafin said the ceremony was not merely celebratory but a reaffirmation of historical order and responsibility within Yoruba traditional institutions.
Oba Owoade stressed that chieftaincy in Yoruba culture is not a matter of favour or decoration but a duty that carries responsibility. He noted that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are collective in nature, representing the entire Yoruba people rather than individual towns or kingdoms.
The monarch explained that the throne of Oyo historically emerged as a central coordinating authority for the Yoruba people, a role recognised long before modern governance. He said this authority was acknowledged during colonial administration and preserved in post-independence governance structures.
He added that colonial records, scholarly works, post-independence councils and the Supreme Court of Nigeria have all affirmed this historical position. According to him, such recognition confirms that titles with regional scope must originate from an authority whose reach spans Yorubaland.
The Alaafin urged the new titleholders to serve with humility, courage and loyalty to the Yoruba people. He said, “Chieftaincy, in our culture, is not an act of favour… It is duty, conferred only when history, authority, and responsibility align,” adding that the honours should promote unity, dignity and respect for tradition.
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