UPDATED: Oyo unveils committee for Alaafin’s coronation

The Oyo State Government, on Monday, unveiled the committee set up for the coronation of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

A statement issued on Monday from the office of the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said that the inaugural meeting of the committee was presided over by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo.

The committee members comprises four members of the Oyo State cabinet, including the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Musibau Babatunde; the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun; Ojo and Oyelade.

Other members are three House of Assembly members from Oyo Constituency, including Gbenga Oyekola from Atiba State Constituency; Rahman Olorunpoto from Oyo East/Oyo West Constituency and Oladeji Oparinde from Afijio Constituency.

According to the commissioner, Akeem Olukitibi the Chairman of Oyo West Local Government; Wahab Adetunji the Chairman Atiba Local Government; Sola Oluokun the Chairman of Oyo East Local Government and Olufemi Aikomo the Chairman of Afijio Local Government are also members.

Also, seven family members of the new Alaafin of Oyo, religious leaders and other stakeholders are part of the committee.

According to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, arrangements have started in earnest to ensure a successful coronation in strict compliance with the tradition of Oyo people.

The commissioner for information recalled that in the past five years, the ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration had crowned 10 kings and 40 baales.

“Governor “Seyi Makinde expects everyone involved in the coronation to be diligent and show maximum support for the success of the event,” Oyelade said.

It will be recalled that the PUNCH had, on January 13, 2025, reported that Oba Owoade officially received his appointment letter as the Alaafin-designate from the Oyo State governor following the approval of the governor.

The paper also reported that once officially recognised, the Alaafin-designate, Owoade would begin traditional rites that would lead to his coronation at a date to be announced by the state government.

“The coronation proper will take place in four weeks, but today I will hand over the certificate and staff of office,” Makinde had said during the presentation of certificate to the Alaafin-designate, Oba Owoade.

However, the PUNCH reported that traditional rites leading to the coronation of the new Alaafin of Oyo, had been put on hold.

According to a family source, Oba Owode 1 had to return to Canada shortly after receiving the appointment letter and Staff of Office, to disengage officially from his professional commitments and then wrap up necessary paperwork before taking on his monarchical duties as the Alaafin of Oyo.

The source said: “He (Owoade) is still in Canada. He has to resign from the places he works in Canada and perfect all those papers before returning to Oyo.”

Owoade’s emergence as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo follows the transition of the late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III in April 2022. The late Oba Adeyemi ruled the Oyo Kingdom for 50 years.

The PUNCH had reported on Wednesday, January 29 that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, had ordered the immediate dissolution of an unauthorised coronation committee allegedly set up by a group of individuals without his approval.

The dissolution order was conveyed In a statement titled, “Coronation Committee Setup in Oyo Town—Notice of Cease & Desist”, made available to the PUNCH. Oba Owode 1, had in the statement, cautioned that any committee or event related to his coronation must receive prior approval from his office, and that doing otherwise would be considered illegal.

Meanwhile, according to reports on Monday, February 3, the Oyo State Government has fixed Saturday, April 5 for the coronation of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1.