Oluwo- Ataoja Row: Princes Advocate for Structured Conflict Resolution

Oluwo–Ataoja Row: Princes Advocate for Structured Conflict Resolution

 

 

 

Princes from three royal families in Iwo, Osun State, have appealed to the state government and the Osun Traditional Council to regulate the social media activities of monarchs, following escalating public disputes among traditional rulers in the state.

 

The call comes amid the ongoing supremacy tussle between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, over who occupies the fourth position in Osun State’s traditional hierarchy.

 

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Iwo on Wednesday, Prince Adedoja Osunwo, spokesperson for the royal families, described the feud as avoidable if formal internal mechanisms for conflict resolution were in place.

 

He stated, “The social media exchanges between these monarchs are unnecessary. A gazette already outlines the ranking of traditional rulers. What we are witnessing online threatens Yoruba unity and undermines the respect accorded to our traditional institutions.”

 

Prince Osunwo commended the intervention of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Iwo Board of Trustees in efforts to ease tensions. He urged the Osun State Traditional Council, under the leadership of Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, to establish formal conflict-resolution procedures for disputes among monarchs.

 

Tracing the origins of the disagreement, Osunwo pointed to distorted historical narratives, stressing that the Oluwo’s throne emanates from Ile-Ife and has never been that of a lesser chief.

 

The Ataoja, during a recent lecture at Osun State University marking his 15th coronation anniversary, reiterated that his stool historically occupies the fourth position—a status he claims was wrongly ceded to the Oluwo during his predecessor’s reign. He emphasized that his objective was to assert historical rights, not to provoke conflict.

 

Responding, the Oluwo, through his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, urged Oba Oyetunji to seek guidance from respected Osogbo elders and avoid misrepresenting the traditional hierarchy of Yoruba stools.

 

The princes’ appeal underscores growing concern over monarchs’ use of social media for public disputes, with calls for structured conflict resolution to preserve unity and uphold the dignity of traditional institutions in Osun State.