Makinde Presents Staff Of Office To New Alaafin Of Oyo

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Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the new Alaafin of Oyo, has been given the office by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. &nbsp,

At the governor’s office’s Exco Chamber in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday morning, the governor gave the official document ratifying the new monarch’s rule to the new ruler.

Nearly three years after Lamidi Adeyemi III, the former Alaafin, passed away, the symbolic event took place.

The governor’s announcement last week raised some issues with the choice of the new Alaafin and the staff of office’s presentation.

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The governor stated at the event that the Alaafin’s stool is significant for Yoruba culture as a whole as well as for Oyo town.

Because of his administration’s belief in transparency and openness, the governor asserted that he had chosen not to interfere with the appointment of the new Alaafin.

I Met New Alaafin First Time On January 12, 2025 – Makinde

He added that the Yoruba race as a whole is very important, not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State. So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. We shouldn’t work with it as a stool.

For the first time in my life, I met Prince Owoade yesterday. I haven’t spoken to him in my entire life since yesterday. It was deliberate because I didn’t want my opinion to have an impact on the decision-making process, and I didn’t know his profile or any of the princes competing for the stool.

“Let me say this clearly, when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.

Some people came to me and said, “This is our friend,” when it was time for us to approve the choice of Okere. Whether you are PDP or APC, one person is considered to be APC, but I responded that that does not mean anything to me. Why should my decision be based on political consideration? So, I approved the selection of the Saki kingmakers.

“I always tell people not to kill themselves over politicians, because we see ourselves in the night. We go to each other’s houses. Politics, electioneering is a game. Governance turns into a serious business after your election because you will make decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.

In 2022, the Alaafin stool became inaccessible. We were moving towards election and people said, you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin, otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you. I argued that people shouldn’t vote for me, but that I would do what was right, and Oyo overwhelmingly supported me. I’ll still have Yoyo supporting me.

The government is not letting down those who are still utterly committed to destabilizing the traditional institution in Oyo, let me add. We will prosecute them. The money they collected, they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them”.

Governor Makinde prayed for the new monarch’s rule to bring peace and progress to Yoruba, Oyo State, and Oyo Town.

“The coronation would take place in four weeks,” the statement states. From today, we have an Alaafin. I congratulate the Alaafin of Oyoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade. I pray that wherever they may be in the world, you will bring harmony to the Yoruba race.

Governor Makinde continued, “I pray it will also promote Yoruba development and progress in Oyoland, Oyo State, and the Yoruba race in general.”

Alaafin Owoade promised to work for the development of Oyo Town, Oyo State, and Nigeria as well as for the development of the population in his response.

He thanked the Oyomesi, the Governor, and everyone who supported his election and appointment as Oyo’s 46th Alaafin.

Hon Demola Ojo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftainship Matters, praised the Governor earlier in his speech for ensuring that the right procedures were used to select the new Alaafin.
He also expressed his gratitude to the hiring committee.

The deputy governor of Oyo State, Barr, was present at the gathering. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, a former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, member representing Oyo East/Oyo West House of Assembly, Hon. Rahman Olorunpoto, Awise Awo Agbaye, Professor Wande Abimbola and his wife, Iyanifa Ajisebo Abimbola, some members of the Oyomesi as well as traditional rulers in Oyo Kingdom.