A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has stirred widespread debate after declaring that the age of imperial dominance associated with the old Oyo Empire has ended.
Naijaonpoint reports that Ajayi also insisted that no traditional ruler holds supremacy over others in contemporary Yoruba society.
The presidential aide made the remarks in a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, where he shared a photograph of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, while arguing against perceived hierarchical superiority among Yoruba monarchs.
Ajayi wrote, “We are no longer in the era of the Oyo Empire.
“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.”
He stressed that the historical influence of the Oyo Empire should not be mistaken for present-day cultural or political authority.
“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 added.
Ajayi urged traditional rulers in the South-West to embrace cooperation in line with modern realities, noting that mutual respect would better serve their people.
“The society will function well if the current natural rulers in Yorubaland understand their roles in modern society.
“Our kings should now work collaboratively to preserve peace, unity and development in their communities whilst preserving our cultural values,” he said.
The comments have generated mixed reactions online, coming amid ongoing debates over hierarchy, influence and power among traditional institutions in Yorubaland.
While some cultural historians continue to regard the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo as historically pre-eminent within Yoruba civilisation, others argue that no single throne can claim overarching authority over the diverse Yoruba kingdoms, pointing instead to the spiritual primacy of Ooni of Ife and the ancient city of Ile-Ife.