Oyo Empire era is over says Tinubu aide
A senior aide to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, has sparked debate after declaring that the era of the Oyo Empire is over and that no Yoruba monarch is superior to another. Ajayi, who serves as the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made the statement while reacting to ongoing discussions about traditional hierarchy and leadership among Yoruba royal institutions.
According to Ajayi, the historical dominance once associated with the Oyo Empire belongs to the past and should not be used to place any contemporary monarch above others in modern Nigeria. He stressed that while the Oyo Empire played a significant role in Yoruba history, present-day traditional institutions operate within a constitutional framework that recognises equality and mutual respect among royal stools across Yorubaland.
Ajayi explained that Nigeria’s current governance structure does not confer supremacy on any traditional ruler over another, regardless of historical background. He noted that traditional rulers today are custodians of culture and partners in community development, not political overlords, and should therefore relate with one another on the basis of respect rather than rivalry or inherited dominance.
The comments have generated mixed reactions, with some observers welcoming the position as a realistic acknowledgment of modern realities, while others argue that historical precedence still carries symbolic weight in Yoruba culture. The statement has reignited broader conversations about the role of history, tradition, and equality among monarchs in contemporary Nigerian society.
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