Oyo Empire Belongs to History: No Yoruba Monarch Holds Supremacy Over Others — Tinubu’s Aide Declares

 

A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has ignited intense debate across Yorubaland by asserting that the era of the ancient Oyo Empire's dominance is firmly in the past, and no contemporary Yoruba monarch holds supremacy over others.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Ajayi attached a photograph of the current Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, while emphasizing the need for modern traditional rulers to prioritize collaboration over claims of hierarchical superiority.

“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 their former colonies. Times have changed. We are now in a new world.”

He further stated: “Oyo Empire now belongs to history and the whole of what we now know as Yorubaland was never under the rule of the Alaafin.” Ajayi urged Yoruba monarchs to embrace collaborative leadership, mutual respect, and a focus on preserving peace, unity, and development in their communities while upholding cultural values.

The remarks come amid ongoing controversies surrounding the leadership structure of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde inaugurated the new council, appointing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, as its pioneer chairman for a two-year term under a rotational system involving the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland. Governor Makinde noted that the arrangement followed consultations with all three monarchs, who reportedly endorsed it. Notably, the Alaafin was absent from the inauguration ceremony.

Ajayi's intervention has reignited longstanding debates over traditional hierarchies in Yorubaland. Some cultural historians and commentators maintain that the Alaafin’s stool holds historical pre-eminence due to the Oyo Empire's past political and military influence. Others counter that no single throne can claim overarching authority, pointing instead to the spiritual primacy of Ile-Ife and the Ooni of Ife as the cradle of Yoruba civilization.

The post has generated mixed reactions on social media, with supporters praising it as a call for unity in a modern democratic Nigeria, while critics view it as dismissive of historical legacies and potentially divisive.

As a key presidential aide, Ajayi's statement underscores the evolving role of traditional institutions in contemporary society, where monarchs are encouraged to serve as mediators, cultural custodians, and promoters of development rather than imperial figures.

The debate highlights the delicate balance between preserving rich Yoruba heritage and adapting to present-day realities, as Nigeria continues to navigate the intersection of tradition, governance, and national unity. Authorities and cultural stakeholders have yet to issue formal responses, but the issue is expected to dominate discussions in Yoruba socio-political circles in the coming days.