Oluwo lauds Makinde over appointment of Owoade as new Alaafin of Oyo
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Friday, reacted to the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the Alaafin-designate while expressing confidence that the Yoruba monarchy will soon be the envy of other kingdoms.
According to a statement issued, Oba Akanbi lauded the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for selecting Prince Owoade as the Oba-elect; his (Prince Owoade) exposure and experience make him well-equipped to lead the ancient town of Oyo.
The Oluwo also described Owoade’s ascension to the throne as the will of God and called for unwavering support for the newly-designated Alaafin.
He said, “I congratulate Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin Elect, on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers. While extending my congratulations to the good people of Oyo Kingdom, I equally commend the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for making such a courageous decision by appointing an exposed prince as Alaafin.
“With this decision, Governor Seyi Makinde has convinced the digital generation that the Yoruba monarchy will soon be an envy of many. The Governor is fulfilling one of the purposes of the creation of challenging the status quo by changing the narrative of traditional institutions in Yorubaland from analogue to digital.
“I want to call on the good people of Oyo State to accept the emergence of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the will of God. God has spoken. No one has the power to enthrones without the will of Olodumare (Almighty God). One of the means to manifest submissiveness to God is to accept whoever He promotes.”
The Informant247 reports that the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday approved the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
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A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said that Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Governor of Oyo State.
According to the commissioner, a statement to this effect has been issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo, who said that the announcement has put to rest all the socio and legal bickerings that have ensued since the demise of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.
Matters arising
Oyo kingmakers oppose Makinde’s fresh selection process, insist Gbadegesin is Alaafin-elect
Meanwhile, the five Oyo kingmakers on Thursday, faulted Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive to initiate a fresh selection process to pick a new Alaafin of Oyo, insisting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin had already been chosen as the Alaafin-elect.
The kingmakers opposing the governor’s action include the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade; the Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele; the Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf; a warrant chief standing in for Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and a warrant chief standing in for Alapinni of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.
The kingmakers, in a letter addressed to the governor and signed by their legal counsel, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), said, “We have just been reliably informed by our clients that you have just through the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairmen of Atiba and Oyo East Local Government appointed (i) Chief Odurinde Olusegun (Alajagba of Ajagba) (ii) Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye (Alago-Oja of Ago Oja) as warrant kingmakers to join High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) to kickstart the process of selecting another candidate to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.
“The two local government chairmen and the said warrant chiefs and High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo), who are not in support of the decision of the majority of the kingmakers that selected Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alafin-elect were summoned today, 9th January 2025 to the office of the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs where they were ordered to commence a fresh process to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.”
Sobaloju described the move as illegal and disrespectful to the judiciary, noting that the matter is still before the court, warning that disregarding the court’s authority undermines governance and violates the constitution.
He likened the move to a previous incident where Makinde disregarded court proceedings to dissolve democratically elected local government chairmen.
He added, “Proceeding to commence a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo would be subjudice and tantamount to lawlessness and disregard of the superior courts of record, an act which Your Excellency ought to distance yourself from.
“We, therefore, once more request and urge Your Excellency to suspend any plan to kick start a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo during the pendency of a motion for injunction, pending appeal in obedience to law and integrity of our courts.”
