As Oyo prepares for the coronation of Oba Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, tensions have surfaced within the royal lineage.
While the Oyo State Government has officially set up a coronation committee to oversee the grand event, nine princes from the Agunloye Ruling House have openly rejected Oba Owoade’s selection, citing traditional violations in the selection process.
The state government’s committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, includes key government officials, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen, and royal family representatives.
Their mandate is to ensure that the coronation aligns with the deep-rooted customs of the Oyo people.
“Governor Makinde expects everyone involved to be diligent and give their maximum support to make this event a resounding success,” he stated.
Oba Owoade was formally recognized as Alaafin-designate on January 13, 2025, when Governor Makinde presented him with his appointment letter, announcing that the coronation would take place within four weeks. His ascension follows nearly three years of anticipation since the passing of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III in April 2022, after 50 years on the throne.
However, not all voices within the royal family are in agreement. Nine princes from the Agunloye Ruling House, including Prince Lasisi Adebayo and Prince Adediwura Oyekola, have formally rejected Oba Owoade’s emergence, arguing that his selection did not follow due process.
“It is against our tradition to have someone emerge without proper consultation,” they asserted, warning that their opposition would persist until their concerns were addressed.
Also, one of the 82 aspirants for the Alaafin of Oyo stool, Prince Ismail Owoade, has initiated legal action against Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, challenging the governor’s decision to engage Professor Wande Abimbola to consult the Ifa oracle in determining the next Alaafin of Oyo.
In his suit, marked HOY/04/2025, and filed at the Oyo State High Court, Owoade, a kinsman of the newly appointed Alaafin, Oba Akeem Owoade, decried the appointment of Professor Abimbola as “strange, unknown to Oyo Native Law and Custom,” arguing that it violated both the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
Owoade is seeking a court declaration that the step taken by Governor Makinde is “invalid, illegal, null, and void.”
Despite this resistance, Oba Owoade has moved to consolidate his authority. On Wednesday, he issued a directive dissolving an unauthorized coronation committee set up without his approval.
In a statement titled “Coronation Committee Setup in Oyo Town—Notice of Cease & Desist,” the Alaafin warned that any group or event related to his coronation must receive direct authorization from his office. Any parallel activities, he emphasized, would be deemed illegal and unrecognized.
With the coronation process moving forward despite internal disputes, all eyes remain on Oyo as the ancient kingdom navigates the complexities of tradition, legitimacy, and governance in selecting its next ruler.
