Ooni most supreme traditional ruler in Yorubaland — Elebuibon

Renowned Ifa priest, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, has spoken on rift between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

According to him,  the Ooni remains the most supreme traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Elebuibon said the current tussle between the Ooni and Alaafin had no basis in Yoruba tradition, stressing that colonial interference and modern politics were responsible for the division.

“The Ooni is the father of all Yoruba monarchs, including the Alaafin. Traditionally, the relationship is like that of a father and son. The supremacy battle never existed until the advent of colonialism and later, political manipulation,” he said.

He said while the Oyo Empire rose to prominence under Oranmiyan in the 16th and 17th centuries, it did not diminish the Ooni’s position as the spiritual head of the Yoruba race.

“Oranmiyan’s exploits outgrew those of his father, but that never made him superior. The origin of the Yoruba race is Ile-Ife, not Oyo,” Elebuibon declared.

Ge said the British colonial authorities deliberately created rivalries among Yoruba monarchs to strengthen their control, citing the signing of treaties with the Alaafin while still recognizing the Ooni’s spiritual authority.

READ ALSO:

• Sowore: Retired police officers fault IGP, accuse him of protecting criminals
• El-Rufai says he is not contesting any position in 2027
• FBI investigates Minneapolis school shooting as anti-Catholic hate crime

On the modern dimension of the dispute, Elebuibon said, “This tussle is more of politics than history. Successive Oonis and Alaafins, especially Oba Sijuwade Olubuse and Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, fought bitter battles that nearly divided the Yoruba Council of Obas. Today, loyalists close to the thrones are fueling the current disagreements.”

He appealed to Oba Ogunwusi and the current Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade, to put unity above rivalry for the progress of Yorubaland.

“It is not in the interest of our people globally for this supremacy conflict to continue. The Yoruba nation’s development depends on their cooperation,” he warned.

The Ifa priest also urged groups such as the Oyo Legacy to avoid inflaming tensions, insisting that no Oba should contest supremacy with the Ooni.

On resolving the dispute, Elebuibon pointed to Ifa divination as a spiritual tool. “Ifa has always provided solutions in times of crisis. The Ooni will soon embark on the Olojo Festival, where he will pray for peace in Yorubaland. I am confident this issue will be part of his prayers.”

He concluded by reminding both monarchs of their responsibility: “They went through their rites properly; they know the right thing to do. Those instigating conflict around them must allow peace to reign.”

Ooni most supreme traditional ruler in Yorubaland — Elebuibon

What happens when someone dies without a Will – Lawyer

When a person dies, it is often said that they live on through the legacy they leave behind. But in Nigeria, that legacy can quickly become a source of bitter family disputes, legal entanglements, and prolonged court battles, especially when the deceased fails to leave a written will.

The issue of intestacy—dying without a will—remains a common and complex problem in Nigerian society, often due to cultural beliefs, religious uncertainty, and lack of awareness.

Sometimes, the struggle for properties of deceased persons can linger for so many years, a problem that a will could have solved. In some cases, even with the presence of a will, some families engage in very prolonged disputes, where they begin to contest the will of the deceased.

Many still view the drafting of a will as an invitation to death, a myth that legal experts have consistently worked to debunk.

In a chat with THE WHISTLER, legal practitioner Barrister Nelson Ilebor Kebordih explained the consequences of dying without a will, how Nigerian law handles such cases, and the importance of proper estate planning.

According to him, dying without a will creates a problem, but said the law has a way of creating a solution to the problem in a way that it will benefit all parties.

“Once a person dies, in Nigerian law, the person can either die testate or intestate When the person dies testate, it means they left a testamentary disposition that expresses their wishes after they’re gone. That’s what we call a will,” Kebordih said.

However, he noted that many Nigerians avoid writing wills due to cultural superstitions.

“People tend not to write their will because of the fear of death. They believe once they write their will, it means they are going to die. This belief is a big problem.”

“There is what we call conflict of law. The courts have to determine how to express the person’s afflictory disposition—in other words, how their property and goodwill will be managed.”

This process, Kebordih said, involves determining which system of law applied to the deceased: customary law, Islamic law, or English law. He however noted that there is a possibility he is not inclined to any law.

“If he had more than one wife and didn’t go to church, for instance, that points to him living under traditional laws, so the inheritance customs of his community would apply. If he was a practicing Muslim, Islamic law would apply,” he explained.

READ ALSO:

• Kane’s brace sinks Flamengo as Bayern storm to victory in six-goal thriller
• Aregbesola’s loyalists join APC in Osun
• Kwankwaso betrayed our trust – NNPP

“He might have one wife, not go to church, and yet not follow tradition either. In such cases, the Administration of Estate Laws of the respective state comes in. For residents of Abuja, for instance, the Administration of Estate Act governs such matters. The distribution of the estate then follows a hierarchy of relationships.

“If he leaves behind a wife, she inherits the estate. If both spouses are dead, the next in line are the children. If there are no children, the court looks to the parents, first the man’s parents, then the woman’s. Then it moves to siblings and so on, until no family members are left. In that case, the estate goes to the Attorney-General’s office and is managed by the government.”

On whether a will can be challenged or overturned in favour of someone excluded from it, the lawyer said “Once a will is regular, it binds everyone connected to it.”

“But if a beneficiary or family member is dissatisfied, they can contest the will in court. The court will then assess the validity of the will,” he added.

Kebordih however stated that validity can be questioned on several grounds. According to him, a key requirement under Nigerian law is that the will must be signed by at least two adult witnesses.

He said, “If one of these witnesses is also a beneficiary of the will, the court may void that portion of the document.”

“Also, Mental capacity is another crucial factor. If there is sufficient evidence that the person who made the will lacked the mental capacity to understand what they were doing, the court can invalidate the will or parts of it,” Nelson added.

He also pointed out that customary laws in some Nigerian states reserve special rights for certain family members, particularly the first son.

“There are some state laws that reserve the father’s land or family compound for the first son. Even if the will says otherwise, the first son’s rights under customary law can override that. So that place they buried his father, it belongs to the first son—nobody can challenge it.”

The lawyer therefore urged Nigerians to rethink their aversion to writing wills, stating that the lack of proper estate planning has caused irreparable damage to many families.

He said, “This customary bias we have about death is very bad. Most families today are fighting because the father did not leave a clear-cut disposition,” “Making a will does not mean you’ll die tomorrow. It simply helps preserve your estate, protects your legacy, and prevents unnecessary conflict.”

Kebordih emphasized that a will is “a testamentary disposition of a person with respect to the administration of his estate upon death.” Without it, families are left to battle it out, sometimes for years over properties, money, and inheritance.

As Nigeria’s population grows and family structures become more complex, writing a will has never been more important.

The legal system offers clear processes for both testate and intestate deaths, but families suffer most when nothing is put in place. In the end, writing a will isn’t a curse, it’s a final act of care, foresight, and peace

What happens when someone dies without a Will – Lawyer

Does Tiv man offer his wife to a guest in the name of hospitality?

There is a dangerous lie slithering through the undergrowth of ignorance, coiling its venom around the noble image of the Tiv man.

It is whispered, smirked, sometimes even declared by those too lazy to learn and too eager to label. That a Tiv man, in the name of hospitality, offers his wife to a guest.

What an evil tale. What a tragic misreading of kindness. What a slap on the face of honour. We Feed Our Guests, Not Trade Our Brides. Let it be said clearly, for the avoidance of doubt.

Does Tiv man offer his wife to a guest in the name of hospitality?