Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has insisted that he is ahead of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona in hierarchy.
The Alake maintained that the Awujale remained the last in the echelon of major Yoruba traditional rulers.
Alake said his earlier listing of the Awujale as occupying the last position after the quartet of the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin and Alake of Egbaland “was supported by documentary evidence and I, therefore, stand by my position”.
Oba Adetona, at an event in Lagos last Thursday, claimed among other things that the Alake was a junior chief in Egba kingdom under the Alaafin and that Alake was also of the same status with some Ijebu obas such as the Ebumawe of Ago -Iwoye, who are under his (Adetona’s) jurisdiction.
However, Oba Gbadebo, who spoke through 22 Egba chiefs, including 15 Ogboni chiefs who gathered in Ake Palace, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to reply Adetona, said the ranking of the Yoruba traditional rulers was carried out in 1937 by the then Ooni of Ife.
Reading a prepared speech signed by the Balogun of Egbaland, Chief Sikirulai Atobatele at a briefing, the Baaroyin of Egbaland, Chief Layi Labode, said the ranking took place at the Central Native Council meeting in Lagos and was chaired by the Governor – General, Sir William Macgregor.
Labode added that those in attendance at the said 1937 meeting in the Government House, Lagos, were the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Alake of Abeokuta and the Awujale of Ijebu – Ode.
He said their concern about Awujale’s comment was predicated on the monarch’s “self – indulgence to churn out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable Nigerians”.
Labode said “historically speaking, Alake was higher by salary differentials paid by the Colonial Government at the time.”
According to him, the Alake of Abeokuta earned £2,250 while the Awujale of Ijebu – Ode earned £1,700 during the colonial era.
“Awujale (claimed he) made several calls to Alake to confirm if Alake actually made the statement on Yoruba Obas ranking. Awujale also claimed that Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, also contacted Alake on the same issue which Alake again denied.
“(The fact) both Awujale and Oba of Lagos actually called Alake on the ranking of Yoruba Obas, Alake responded that his ranking was supported by documentary evidence and he, therefore, stands by his position,” Labode said.
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