Nine Royal Families Reject Owoade’s Appointment as Alaafin of Oyo

The Atiba 9 royal families in Oyo has rejected the appointment of Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo, describing it as unacceptable and disregard for Oyo’s revered traditions.

The princes, representing the nine royal families, accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of basing his action on a proclamation by US-based Awise Agbaye, Prof Wande Abimbola, who claimed that Ifa chose Owoade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.

Prince Sina Afolabi of the Adeitan royal family reiterated that the families have legitimate claims to the throne, insisting that due process must be followed to uphold the integrity and sanctity of Oyo’s royal institution.

The princes noted that they did not support the selection of Owoade as the Alaafin-designate, adding that the process that led to his emergence was “against the custom and tradition of the Oyo Royal Houses as regards the making and installation of the Alaafin.”

Afolabi clarified that their objection was not personal against Owoade or Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, another contestant earlier chosen by the Oyomesi, as both have legitimate claims to aspire for the throne.

However, they insisted that the process which produced Owoade was not in alignment with the longstanding traditions of the ancient Oyo town.

The Atiba 9 also emphasized that they are still pursuing the case they filed in court challenging the process that led to the emergence of both Owoade and Gbadegesin as contenders for the throne.

Afolabi explained, “What the governor did was totally against the highly revered Alaafin stool. His action has reduced the throne to an object of ridicule. It was expected of Governor Makinde, an apostle of due process, to have followed a just line of action and avoid reducing the Alaafin stool or the Alaafin to an Oba Gbandu or Oba Yebuyebu (an ordinary oba without honour).”

He added, “When the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, was to be made the oba, he entered Ipebi and everything was done in accordance with the custom and tradition of Ife before he was proclaimed as the Oonirisa.

“We don’t want our revered stool or the Alaafin to become an object of ridicule and mockery in the future. We don’t want him to be referred to as an oba that was anointed in Ibadan, precisely at the Office of the Governor. We don’t want people to refer to him as an Alaafin that did not enter Ipebi.

“The Alaafin of Oyo is a prominent and first-class traditional ruler in the entire Yoruba land. We, the Atiba 9, are against the process embarked upon by the state government to make Omooba Owoade the Alaafin. It should be stopped and the right thing must be done in appointing a new Alaafin.

“We don’t have anything personal against Omooba Owoade who was appointed as the Alaafin on Monday. He too made efforts to become the oba. We don’t have any personal issues with Omooba Lukman Gbadegesin either. However, our group is against the process through which Owoade and Gbadegesin emerged as candidates for the Alaafin stool.

“And what Governor Makinde had done by making Omooba Owoade the Alaafin is an attempt to ridicule the throne. We, the Atiba 9, don’t want it! We respect Professor Wande Abimbola who consulted Ifa, but if he wants to be fair to all, he should come and consult Ifa at Ojude Ogun here in Oyo.”

The Atiba 9 also urged the Oyomesi, led by Basorun Yusuf Akinade, to resolve any internal disagreements amicably.

Afolabi declared that with the current arrangement, any occupant of the Alaafin stool would lose respect from other Yoruba obas.

He added, “If we should look at it critically as things stand now, some obas who are supposed to be taking instructions from the Alaafin will not be doing that; they will not respect him as they will see him as not being properly appointed. The Alaafin should not be reduced to an ordinary oba.

“These are our grouses. We are not against whoever is appointed as the Alaafin, but the process must be in accordance with our established custom, culture, tradition and the rule of law. Whoever that emerged through such a process will be acceptable to us.”