Supremacy: “If Alaafin was superior, why did Oranmiyan return to Ife to fight for Ooni’s crown?” – Wike’s aide, Lere stirs fresh debate

Lere Olayinka, the special aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has stirred fresh debate over the ongoing supremacy tussle between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

In a series of posts shared on his official X account, Olayinka raised historical questions about the authority of the two thrones, drawing attention to the legendary figure, Oranmiyan.

The dispute between the two monarchs deepened recently after the Alaafin of Oyo issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni reverse a chieftaincy title bestowed on a prominent businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi. 

The Ooni, however, downplayed the ultimatum, prompting widespread public discussion about which stool holds greater supremacy.

Reacting to the controversy, Olayinka recalled that Oranmiyan, widely regarded as the pioneer of the Alaafin dynasty, left the Oyo throne in the hands of his son and returned to Ile-Ife to contest the Ooni throne.

Olayinka wrote:

“If the throne of the ruler of Oyo (Alaafin) is superior to that of the ruler of Ile-Ife (Ooni), why did Oranmiyan abandon the throne of Alaafin of Oyo for his son, and return to Ile-Ife to wrestle the Ooni throne with the 5th Ooni, Obalufon Alayemore (Obalufon II)? Why did he opt for the Ooni throne and ascended the throne as the 6th Ooni Ile-Ife, instead of staying in Oyo as Alaafin? And why was Oranmiyan buried in Ile-Ife instead of Oyo?”

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