Oluwo, Ataoja in fresh row over stool hierarchy

A fresh royal row has emerged in Osun State following a viral video of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Laaroye, claiming the supremacy of his stool in the state’s council of traditional rulers.

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In the footage, shared on Facebook, the Ataoja is seen ranking Osogbo’s royal stool to be the fourth most important in the state, above several others.

Reacting to the video, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, through his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, dismissed the claim as overreach. He said the clarification was necessary to protect the ancient stool of the Oluwo and to prevent distortions of Yoruba history.

“The Oluwo will not contend or compete with anyone. Ataoja should note that the claim to seniority is not by chair,” the statement said, advising the Ataoja to learn “unadulterated history from great men and women of Osogbo well versed in the history of Osogbo and Yoruba by extension.”

He described the Oluwo as a “natural, paramount ruler” in Yorubaland, with its crown tracing directly to Oduduwa. According to him, the Oluwo presides over more than 35 subordinate kings in Iwoland. Conversely, he said, the Ataoja only attained crown status in 1948 after being a Baale.

“While I agree we are in an era where even the newest Baale can challenge the oldest crowns with little consequences, yet I still feel hurt by what we deliberately surrendered in the last generation (25 years),” he stated.

While faulting the Ataoja’s version of history, Mr Ibraheem stressed that the Oluwo holds Osogbo and its people in high regard. He pointed to the contributions of notable indigenes such as Tunde Badmus, Justice Adekunle Adeigbe, AbdulGaniyu Adekunle, and Ajibola Basiru, noting that the Oluwo would not engage the Ataoja in a needless supremacy contest out of respect for them.

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“In honour of these people and the good of Osogbo, the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has chosen not to go to history with Ataoja because the margin is unbeatable,” the statement added.

The aide also recalled the role of Iwo warriors in defending Yorubaland during the Fulani invasion of Osogbo, citing the exploits of leaders such as Balogun Ali-Iwo and Basorun Ogunmola.

“Osogbo has quality sons and daughters who are making waves and contributing immensely to her greatness. Being the state capital, they have enjoyed unequalled infrastructures and workforce presence that have contributed to her dense population. These should not be the factor by Ataoja to ratio his stool with the Oluwo throne, a corporal competing with a General,” he said.

Mr Ibraheem concluded that although the Ataoja’s claim was “an overreach,” it would not disrupt the cordial relationship between the people of Iwo and Osogbo.

Supremacy battles

The exchange adds to the recurring debate over stool hierarchies in Yorubaland, a subject that has long stirred disputes among first-class monarchs in the region.

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In recent weeks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, were locked in a supremacy tussle over the Ooni’s decision to confer the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Alaafin to reverse the title. According to the Alaafin, the Ooni overstepped his authority and his action is an affront to his office and a disregard for tradition and the law.