The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has downplayed any supremacy battle with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

Ooni described the 48 hours ultimatum by the Alaafin of Oyo to withdraw the Okanlomo of Yorubaland Chieftaincy title conferred on an Ibadan-based businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi as empty threats of a dead empire.

The Alaafin had issued a 48 hours ultimatum to the Ooni of Ife to withdraw the Chieftaincy title.

Owoade said the decision of the Ooni to confer such a Chieftaincy title as an affront to his authority and the traditional institution.

Responding, Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, said the Ife monarch awaits the elapse of the 48 hours ultimatum.

Posting on his social media page, Olafare wrote: “The Ooni is busy setting up businesses and creating jobs for youths across Yorubaland, they are busy fighting supremacy that does not exist. Dead empire.

“Their 48-hour ultimatum will soon lapse. We are waiting. Dead Empire. Ooni plans for the groundbreaking and launching of the Ojaja smart city in Ibadan, the biggest in Africa, someone is somewhere busy issuing 48 hours empty threats.

“Where does this king (Ooni) have time for supremacy hullabaloo? Issuing 48-hour ultimatum over a Chieftaincy title that doesn’t even exist.”