THE GOVERNOR OF Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has presented a staff of Office and certificate of appointment to the newly selected Alaafin of Oyo, Abímbola Owoade, despite lingering controversies and pushback surrounding his appointment.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan, on Monday, was graced by traditional chiefs, religious leaders, and dignitaries from Oyo town.
Professor Wande Abimbola, a revered Ifa scholar, who reportedly performed the divination process that influenced the governor’s decision, was among the prominent attendees.
This development followed the Oyo State Government’s announcement of Mr Owoade’s selection last Friday, bypassing the Oyomesi, Oyo’s traditional kingmakers, in a move that has sparked widespread debate.
The new Alaafin succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, whose 50-year reign ended with his passing on 22 April 2022. Governor Makinde, in his address during the event, emphasised the need for unity and progress in Oyo State, urging all stakeholders to support the new monarch.
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The Explainer reported that the Oyomesi had initiated the selection process after Oba Adeyemi’s demise, as stipulated by the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
Following a rigorous screening of 82 aspirants from the Agunloye Ruling House, the kingmakers unanimously selected Lukman Gbadegesin, a descendant of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin (1956–1966), as the Alaafin-elect on 30 September 2022.
Their decision was communicated to the governor on 4 October 2022, and no petitions were filed during the legally mandated 21-day window for objections. Additionally, a subsequent legal challenge by a dissatisfied aspirant was dismissed by the Oyo State High Court in December 2022, affirming the legitimacy of the process.
However, The Explainer noted that the governor delayed giving his assent, citing alleged bribery claims made by two Oyomesi members who later reversed their endorsement of Mr Gbadegesin.
Despite the absence of concrete evidence to support these claims, the process was stalled, leaving the selection in limbo for over a year.
On 10 January 2025, Governor Makinde bypassed the traditional council and announced Mr Owoade as the Alaafin-designate, sparking outrage from the Oyomesi. Sources close to the chiefs disclosed that they are preparing to challenge the governor’s actions in court, arguing that the appointment violates both customary law and the 1961 Declaration, which vests the authority to select the Alaafin solely in the Oyomesi.
The Alaafin stool, one of the most revered in Yoruba history, has always been governed by strict traditional and legal guidelines. The 1961 Declaration provides that the Oyomesi, led by the Bashorun of Oyo, must conduct the selection process.
