Three years after the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo became vacant, a Canada-based Prince, Abimbola Akeem Owoade from Agunloye Ruling House, has emerged as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. He is 49.
His emergence followed the approval of his name by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, in a statement made available to journalists on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Prince Dotun Oyelade. The throne of the Alaafin of Oyo is a highly revered one. That, and the throne of the Ooni of Ife are believed to be the two most important thrones in Yorubaland.
The immediate past Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who was the 45th Alaafin, hailed from Alowolodu Ruling House. He breathed his last on April 22, 2022. The selection of his successor was trailed by litigations, which prevented Oyo from having an Alaafin since then till the formal approval of Prince Owoade.
Bashorun of Oyo Town, Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola, who is the head of Oyomesi, which is a body of kingmakers for Oyo Kingdom, acted as Alaafin, throughout the period the stool was vacant.
Prince Owoade was elected as the new Alaafin by the Oyomesi after the Ifa oracle was said to have been consulted. The oracle was consulted after all the princes in the two ruling houses – Agunloye and Alowolodu, had indicated their interests.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Oyelade, confirmed this. According to him, Prince Owoade emerged as new Alaafin after thorough consultations and divinations, and as recommended by the Oyomesi. He added that the recommendations by the Oyo kingmakers preceded the formal approval given by Governor Makinde for Prince Owoade to become the new Alaafin. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Ademola Ojo, said the announcement of Prince Owoade as new Alaafin has put to rest, all the social and legal bickerings that have ensued since the demise of the 45th Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
Ojo called on all citizens of the state to join the government in celebrating the momentous occasion and lend their support to the new Alaafin of Oyo. He prayed that his reign would bring peace, prosperity and unity to the historic Oyo Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Chief Oladipo Oyewole, told Saturday Sun, in his response to the emergence of new Alaafin, that the council “is aware of the consent given to the Oyomesi for the choice of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. We believe this choice will bring progress to the throne.”
He charged the new monarch to bring his experience in Nigeria and abroad to bear on his new role, particularly in administration, humanitarian services, and cultural renaissance.
“We notice that by his reliable training in engineering, services and exposure to field works, he is well grounded to impact the throne and to do well for Oyo Town and for his people, particularly with his exposure to other cultural environments in which he sojourned as an adult.
“Being a young man, and being a professional, who is equipped with a well rounded education, he should do well as manager of human and cultural resources. Be that as it were, as elders who believe strongly in tradition and culture, we would want him to imbibe and to have a listening approach in order to move both old and new things forward
“We wish him very well with good health and long life to lead and improve all around him. Long live Oyo Empire,” the YCE stated.
Available information on the new Alaafin showed that he holds a National Diploma Certificate (ND) in Mechanical Engineering from Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, a Higher National Diploma (HND) in the same Mechnical Engineering in The Polytechnic Ibadan. He proceeded thereafter to the University of Sunderland, where he bagged a Bachellor of Engineering (B.Eng) in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering from Northumbria University.
He has worked as a Planning Engineer at Oil Reach Company in Glasgow, United Kngdom, and a Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, Canada, from where he emerged as new Alaafin.
He is also the president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, with interests in real estate and financial services.
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