ezeagu: I know a lot of posters here will like to get angry, but the Eze Nri is actually quite influential since he was the one that gave Col. Ojukwu a title. Around 2/5 of Igboland is influenced by him and the kingdom is the oldest in Nigeria, and most of eastern Nigeria has felt dome impact in the past by the kingdom.

An act which resulted in controversy, clearly displaying the limits of the Eze Nri's influence.

Even though he rejected it, when it comes to influence in Igboland (when people pay attention to them anyway), it's the Eze Nri that's the most influential, but is not as outspoken as others like the Obi of Onitsha.

solomonkane: I like this thread and have to say above all else, it is still the Sultan of Sokoto. His authority extends all over the large number of Hausa-Fulani people (and Muslims by extension). Like so many posters have said, the traditional stool isn't so powerful in the East (Obi of Onitsha is mentioned due to the prime location of Onitsha and not any particular authority he exerts) and given the diversity of the Niger Delta, no monarch dare go beyond his own locale. For instance; Oba of Benin has no authority over the Otaru of Auchi, the Azagba of Asaba has no authority in Ika or Ukwuani land, Olu of Itsekiri (Olu of Warri title is a misnomer) dare not command an Urhobo or Ijaw man. In the West, the Ooni of Ife is no longer that powerful (Awujale of Ijebuland pays him no homage for instance and distances Ijebu people from Ife ditto for others like the Alaafin of Oyo, Alake of Egbaland e.t.c).

i will say this again, in Yorubaland, the staff of office is what gives power to the throne. The staff of office is the Ase . Monarchs of Yorubaland are non indigenes of the indigenous land they rule over. Obas are migrant authorities imposed to exact power and dominance and act as proxy of a distant regent who sits as overall top dawg.

All Yoruba Obas that hold iru kere as insignia of office are proxies of Oyo. If its their wish to be independent then they ought first to throw their iru kere and other Oyo insignias and rites away and sack their Ogboni and Sugbo Lodges, then institute a new beginning for their throne and people. Similarly, all Obas that carry abere.....if they intend on being independent from Ife need to first sack their Arabas and do away with their beaded crown
and then find substitutes for the throne and sovereingty.

Its easy to say Awujale and Alake are independent, but their authority on the throne says their root is in Oyo and they remain proxies of Oyo.

ezeagu:

Imo has ozo and nze title, Northern Delta has ozo and nze title. Some cultural practices were influenced or came from Nri a long time ago, most especially religion.

That's not a FACT.

Meanwhile. . .

The frosty relationship between Ooni of Ife,
Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the Alaafin of
Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III continued over
the weekend, as Oba Adeyemi lashed out at
Oba Sijuwade, describing him as one fond
of distorting history and ignorant of the
details of his ancestral roots. Oni had during
the Centenary anniversary of late Chief
Obafemi Awolowo held at the MUSON Centre
in Lagos criticized Alaafin over the
celebration of Oranyan.
He was said to have described Alaafin as not
being connected to Oranyan, one of the
sons of Oduduwa and so not qualified to
celebrate him. Ooni was said to have
stressed that Alaafin was reigning over a
dead empire, saying that Alaafin was a
rascally person and that “Alaafin is not
Oranyan”, but he had kept his cool and went
ahead with the Oranyan celebration, “which
attracted many dignitaries from all walks of
life in Nigeria and in the Diaspora”. Oba
Adeyemi while reacting at the weekend
during the special birthday lecture
organized in his honour by the ‘City People
Magazine’, entitled: “Reviving Old Oyo
Customs and Tradition”, delivered by a
Portuguese national, Ms Paula Gomes
(Alaafin’s Cultural Ambassador), the monarch
said he had decided not to engage in
altercations with Ooni any longer since
former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
summoned him, the Awujale of Ijebu, the
late Oba Oyebade Lipede and the Ooni to an
all-night meeting, and everybody had agreed
to cease fire.
He however said despite keeping his cool,
Ooni had continued to castigate him and his
traditional activities, adding that he had
deemed it appropriate “to recall history,
educate the Ooni and let the world know
the truth.” Making reference to series of
documentary evidence, Alaafin recalled that
Oyo is superior to Ife in many ramifications,
asking, “where did this Yoruba Language
that we are speaking originate from? Which
language was used in writing the Bible? It is
Oyo Language. Why not Ife language? Where
else are they speaking Ife Language apart
from Lagere Quarters? Why are the
Modakeke people, who are living behind Ife
not speaking Ife Language?”. Alaafin further
said that he had confronted Ooni with
various questions in the past, even before
Chief Obasanjo at the meeting, but he could
not answer them, “instead, he came with
books that could fill three baskets”.
Alaafin said that, “In 2009, Ooni had
rubbished the institution of Alaafin, but a
year after when he was celebrating his
birthday said Oranyan was his father’s
ancestor. “How could you have denigrated
your ancestors and later claim that you are a
son of the Alaafin. Anybody who does not
know his ancestral roots, who did not strive
to learn about it, and does not learn from
those who know, will continue to make
mistakes and flounder in ignorance. That is
part of Ooni’s inadequacies. “When we
wanted to celebrate Sango, they said Sango
is not Yoruba. Sango studied Quoran. He
was the one that was first conferred with
the title of ‘Akeugberu’. He was the first in
the art of adjudicating justly.
When he was born, the umbilical cord that
joined him with his mother could not be
detached. Because they pulled it and it
would not cut, it became the name ‘Afonja’.
The glory, success and tradition of Yoruba
started from Oyo”, the Alaafin emphasized.
He added that Oyo state during the
administration of late Chief Bola Ige (SAN)
came up with a stamped paper recognizing
Oranyan as the Head of the Princes and
Princesses in Yorubaland, “and that Oyo
dominated all other nations, namely: Ife,
Ijebu, Egba, Ijesa, Sabe, Owu and so on”.
Oba Adeyemi equally said that when Messrs
Richard Lander and McPherson visited Oyo-
Ile in 1827, they concluded that what they
saw in Oyo-Ile in terms of historical
structures and rich cultural heritage was
uncompared with what obtained in the old
European world, while cautioning the Ooni
against further distorting historical facts,
which he said his (Sijuade) predecessor, Oba
Adesoji Aderemi, did not do. In his
congratulatory address on the occasion, the
Director, Institute of African Studies,
University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Albert,
said that the university was ever proud to
associate with the Alaafin, who turned 74
on October 15, “being our able and
reputable patron that epitomizes the rich
African cultural heritage and an inspiration
to all of us.”

401, whats this got to do with what we talking about?

Going by the revelations from the Alaafin, it seems evident that his throne and kingdom is the most influential in Yorubaland. Correct me if I'm wrong though. . .

Give us what you know about the Alaafin stool of office.

401kk:

That's not a FACT.

What do you mean?

Without mincing wif words the sultan of sokoto is da most influential...Home n abroad he's honoured...non like him

1. the kings in ika that have great influence in ancient and modern times are the dein of agbor and obi of owa kingdom,however the agbor kingship is more ancient and one of the oldest in nigeria , starting from the 12th century , although before the 12th century agbor had the ogiso and the ogele as kings.
2. dein or obi of agbor was one of the three most respected kings in old western , midwest and bendel state as the oba of benin, olu of warri and obi of agbor were the three ministers in western region government of the 1950,s .
3. agbor was a great kingdom and the greatest outside of benin in ancient times which extended to many edo towns and delta north areas , before colonial times and it has great pomp .
4. dein of agbor still holds the title of being the youngest monarch to be crowned in the world, the youngest pro-chancellor of a federal university , and the youngest recipient of the royal honour of the country called belgium and many more honours , he is highly honoured by the nigerian and foreign govt

agbotaen:

3. agbor was a great kingdom and the greatest outside of benin in ancient times which extended to many edo towns and delta north areas , before colonial times and it has great pomp .

Interesting. Which communities in Edo and Delta North were under the rule of the Dein of Agbor? Can we, perhaps, have some names?

Madawaki01:
In no particular order, these monarchs stands out in Nigeria
Sultan of Sokoto
Alaafin of Oyo
Ooni Of Ife
Emir of Kano
Oba of Benin
Olubadan of Ibadan
Emir of Zauzau
Obi of Onithsa
Oba of Lagos
Lamido Adamawa
Alake of Egba

hope there is no sentiment here what bout THE OLU OF WARRI

olawalebabs:
summing peoples opinion on the thread so far, I can conclude that the below Kings stands out.
Sultan of Sokoto
Ooni of Ife
Alaafin of Oyo
Oba of Benin
Emir of Kano
Oba of Lagos

OBA OF BENIN
OONI OF IFE
ALAAFIN OF OYO
EMIR OF KANO
OLU OF WARRI
dis re d most recognise monarch in nigeria even recognise by d british

Awujale of Ijebu Land...

Some people keep mentioning Ado Bayero.

NEWS FLASH: THE MAN IS DEAD!

Foreign leaders may have influenced Nigeria far more than any local ones.

In 1906 King Edward VII helped form Nigeria.

ezeagu:
It can't be the Oba of Benin. If the Sultan of Sokoto orders (really orders) Boko Haram to disband then they will disband not today, but yesterday. Anyway, there's only one true king on this earth, and that is King Elizabeth II.

dat is sultan in his land l. oba in is land can do likewise

Sometimes I wonder if I really can. But then I think to myself, maybe I can't. But if I could, that would be good. Maybe it's all a lie?