Ibadan, Oyo State – Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, shared the remarkable journey that led to his emergence as the monarch of the historic Yoruba kingdom.
In an interview published on April 5 by the Nigerian Tribune, the king revealed that his selection was guided by Ifa divination rather than political connections.
He recounted receiving the news while in Canada, describing the moment as both surprising and humbling.
In his words:
“I was sleeping and when I woke up, I decided to just check my phone. The next thing, I received a message from my younger brother. The message he sent was a link… I clicked on the link and the headline read: ‘Governor Makinde approves Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as Alaafin-elect’,” he narrated.
Respect for tradition and cultural processes
Oba Owoade expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for respecting traditional processes during the selection, ensuring that politics did not interfere.
He dismissed rumours of extravagant spending, clarifying that he only gave customary gifts. Reflecting on his time in Ipebi, the traditional seclusion period, he described it as a transformative experience filled with lessons about Oyo’s history and politics.
“I learnt a lot of lessons. It is a place of lifelong lessons. Traditional historians came around and they told me stories about Oyo and the politics of Oyo and Yorubaland in its entirety,” he said.
Commitment to unity and governance
The monarch paid tribute to past Alaafins, including Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi and Alaafin Ladigbolu I, pledging to uphold their legacies and deliver good governance.
He called for unity across religious and traditional lines, emphasising the importance of character over outward displays of religiosity.
Oba Owoade’s vision for Oyo centres on cooperation and cultural preservation, promising progress through collective effort.
“I believe that, with the people’s cooperation, we can cover miles because Agbajo owo ni a fi n so’ya, owo kan o gb’eru d’ori. I embrace all religions. The Yoruba say Iwa l’esin. Your connection with your God matters more than the number of times you display religiosity,” he said.
Oyo gets new Alaafin as Oba Owoade ascends throne
earlier reported that Oba Abimbola Owoade has officially been crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, marking a new chapter in the rich history of the ancient Yoruba kingdom.
He succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who reigned for over 50 years and passed away on April 22, 2022.
The colorful coronation ceremony was held on Saturday, April 5, at Oliveth Baptist High School, Oyo, drawing a crowd of traditional rulers, government officials, and well-wishers from across the country, The Punch reported.
