Governor Seyi Makinde Appoints Prince Owoade as the Alaafin-elect of Oyo

In a bid to replace Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who passed on, on April 22, 2022, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Friday, 10^th January 2025, formally approved the appointment of Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

Governor Makinde was said to have communicated the approval in a public statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, on Friday.

Born into the revered Owoade-Agunloye royal family in Oyo town, Prince Owoade is the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town, Oyo State, Nigeria.

The esteemed position is a culmination of Prince Owoade’s illustrious career, philanthropic endeavours, and dedication to the preservation of Yoruba culture.

In the announcement of the appointment of the Alaafin-elect, Oyo Commissioner for
Information and Orientation, said the appointment came up following the recommendation of the kingmakers of the Kingdom, popularly known as Oyomesi. He further added that Owoade was chosen after extensive consultations and traditional divinations. The claim was denied by the kingmakers.

It must be recalled that the traditional and governmental processes initiated to fill the vacant stool had been dragged on for years.  

The Oyomesi, the historical Oyo council of kingmakers, said announced an 86-man list on September 5, 2022.

Hence, the kingmakers selected Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin Candidate but the governor, who is the appointing authority, questioned the process and refused to approve Gbadegesin’s appointment.

But the kingmakers in their letter to the Governor said the only person they recommended on 30^th September 2022, by the majority of the kingmakers’ lawful votes as the next Alaafin, was Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin.

Therefore, five out of seven kingmakers of Oyo town were said to have rejected the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin as they insisted they never recommended him to Governor Seyi Makinde for appointment as the successor to the vacant throne at any time.

The kingmakers declared the meeting held at the Governor’s Office or elsewhere on Thursday 9^th January, 2025, to select the governor’s preferred candidate as unlawful and illegal, claiming “It is not the duty of the governor to convene the meeting of few kingmakers and emergency warrant chiefs to select or appoint a new Alaafin on the 9th of January 2025 and hurriedly approve the appointment on the 10th of January 2025.”

They, however, said they had appealed to sons and daughters of Oyo Kingdom to remain calm as they intended to challenge the action in court.

Hence, here are the scores to be settled and the final verdict will determine to whom the staff of throne will be given.