Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, have ended their rift, which led to bitter exchanges.

The feud of the monarchs, who preside over revered stools in Yorubaland, recently made headlines.

At the peak of the crisis, the Alaafin issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to reverse the conferment of the title Okanlomo of Yorubaland (or Okanlomo Oodua) on the Bada of Ibadan designate, Chief Dotun Sanusi.

Owoade argued that the Ooni’s instrument of office restricts his authority to three council areas in Osun State and that he acted “unlawfully, derogatorily, and in contempt of the apex court.”

He warned that unless the title is revoked within 48 hours, the Ooni should be prepared to face unspecified “consequences.”

Responding through his media team, the Ooni had dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat”.

The development reopened a long-running rivalry between the Oyo and Ife thrones.

Ile-Ife is widely acknowledged as the ancestral home of the Yoruba people.

But on Friday, billionaire businessman, Kessington Adebutu, famously known as ‘Baba Ijebu’, reconciled the duo during his 90th birthday celebration at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

However, a mild drama ensued when both monarchs were called on stage to give a speech during the ceremony.

The Ooni had finished giving his speech before handing over the microphone to the Alaafin. But the Alaafin positioned the microphone to his aides, who used a handkerchief to cover it before the monarch used it to speak.

But in a joint communiqué signed by the monarchs and witnessed by Adebutu, both of them agreed to sheathe their swords for a “defining chapter” in Yoruba history.

They also agreed for the creation of the Joint Council for Yoruba Unity, which they said aims to strengthen peace, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic growth across Yorubaland.

The formation of the Joint Council, it was said, signals a new era of collaboration between the two most influential Yoruba monarchs.

“Today marks a turning point. We reaffirm our dedication to harmony, respect, and brotherhood among all Yoruba sons and daughters”, it reads.

Traditional rulers, cultural custodians, and Yoruba leaders were present, discussing reconciliation, cooperation, and inter-kingdom relations.

Both monarchs offered prayers for peace and prosperity across Yorubaland, Nigeria, and Africa.

Adebutu described the renewed royal bond as “a milestone that will consolidate unity and development among the Yoruba people.” (Weekend Trust)