Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that he met the newly appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Owoade, for the first time on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
This revelation came on Monday, when the staff of the office and certificate of recognition were presented to the monarch at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan.
Governor Makinde, while addressing the audience, reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Alaafin’s appointment was conducted in a manner that prioritized unity and progress for the Oyo Kingdom.
Henzodaily reports that the governor’s announcement of Oba Owoade as the new Alaafin on January 10 sparked controversy, with some members of the Oyomesi—the traditional council of kingmakers—rejecting the decision.
They argued that the appointment violated the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1967, which prescribes that the selection must be conducted by the Oyomesi through established traditional processes.
He said, “The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toil with.
“I met Prince Owoade for the first time in my life yesterday. I never spoke to him in my entire life until yesterday. I did not know his profile or the profile of any of the princes vying for the stool, and it was deliberate, because I did not want my opinion to influence the process.
“Let me say this clearly: when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.
“When it was time for us to approve the selection of Okere, some people came to me and said ‘This is our friend’. They said one person is APC and I said it does not mean anything to me whether you are PDP or APC. Why should my decision be based on political consideration? So, I approved the selection of the Saki kingmakers.”