By A supremacy contest might be brewing between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adewale and his installed Aare Ona Kakanfo Otunba Gani Adams over who has the traditional right to install the Maiyegun of Yoruba land.
The situation is even more interesting when the Oni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, whose purported supremacy over the whole of Yoruba land is added to the mix. Since the Yoruba tribe is said to have Ile Ife as its origin, isn’t the Oni of Ife, in the right position to install the Maiyegun of Yoruba Land?
The Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land, Mr Ganiu Adams over last year installed Mr Kayode Ajulo, as the Maiyegun of Yoruba land, almost a year after popular musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was installed as the Maiyegun of Yoruba land by Alaafin Oyo HRM Lamidi Adewale.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo’s event took place at the prestigious 10 Degrees even centre, Billings Way, Oregun, as part of the activities lined up to mark the first year anniversary of Otunba Gani Adams’ installation as the 15th Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land.
Recall that BBN360 earlier reported on the installation of popular musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal as the Maiyegun of Yoruba land by Alaafin Oyo HRM Lamidi Adewale, the installation which took place on the 13th Jan 2020 left so many people wondering if there was anything unique about the date because this day last year he installed Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona kakanfo (Generalisimo) of Yoruba land.
Ajulo is honoured as the Maiyegun with special consideration to his passion for championing the cause of people which rights are violated among many other humanitarian efforts to his credit. Among dignitaries that graced the coronation of Frontline human rights activists, politician and prolific lawyer Mr Kayode Ajulo as the Maiyegun of Yoruba land by Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land was the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, wife of People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Titilayo, wife of late strong man of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu, Bose and many more.
Read also Controversy As Alafin Of Oyo Moves To Install Kwam 1 as Mayegun of Yorubaland
While on the other hand, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was considered by Alaafin of Oyo for his contribution to music and politics in the last decade.
Other members of Otunba Gani Adams’ council who are equally honoured with chieftaincy titles of Yoruba land include Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile as B’aareselu, Captain Michael Adeshina as Baarejiroro, Hon. Akeem Ige as Bameto and Alhaja Mudirakat Amore as Yeyeluwa among others.
Presently, two individuals have been installed simultaneously as Mayeigun of Yoruba land. While Alaafin Of Oyo in his capacity as the Iku Baba Yeye of Oyo kingdom bestowed Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) as the Mayeigun of Yoruba land, his appointed generalissimo, Gani Adams, also installed another person Mr Kayode Ajulo as Mayeigun of Yoruba land in Lagos.
Research also made us understand that the Aare Ona Kakanfo immediately after installation dares not see eye to eye with the Alaafin again. They were like parallel lines that should never meet. The relationship is a mystery that historians are yet to unravel to date.
It’s amazing where this contest is leading to. BlackBox Nigeria will like to ask, who is the Maiyegun of Yoruba Land now?
Abass Latifat
