Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has stirred public conversation after asserting that the influence of the historic Oyo Empire no longer defines leadership structures among Yoruba traditional rulers.
Ajayi maintained that contemporary Yoruba society does not recognise the supremacy of any single monarch over others, stressing that the age of imperial authority associated with the Oyo Empire has long ended.
He made the assertion in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, where he shared a photograph of the current Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, to support his position against claims of hierarchical dominance among Yoruba kings.
“We are no longer in the era of the Oyo Empire,” Ajayi wrote. “Rome and the United Kingdom, that once ruled more than half of the world as empires, can no longer claim sovereignty over former colonies. Times have changed. We are now in a new world.”
The presidential aide further argued that the historical prominence of the Oyo Empire should not be mistaken for present-day political or cultural authority, noting that the Alaafin never ruled over the entirety of Yorubaland.
“Oyo Empire now belongs to history and the whole of what we now know as Yorubaland was never under the rule of the Alaafin,” he said.
Ajayi also called on traditional rulers across the South-West to adopt cooperative leadership approaches that reflect modern realities, emphasising that collaboration would enhance peace and development within their domains.
“The society will function well if the current natural rulers in Yorubaland understand their roles in modern society,” he stated. “Our kings should now work collaboratively to preserve peace, unity and development in their communities whilst preserving our cultural values.”
His comments have since generated varied reactions on social media, especially amid ongoing debates surrounding influence, hierarchy and authority among traditional institutions in Yorubaland.
While some scholars and cultural commentators continue to regard the Alaafin of Oyo’s stool as historically pre-eminent within Yoruba civilisation, others dispute any overarching authority of the Oyo throne, arguing instead for the primacy of Ile-Ife and the spiritual leadership of the Ooni of Ife over the diverse Yoruba kingdoms.
(PUNCH)
Post A Comment: