Governor Seyi Makinde Monday said the stool of Alaafin of Oyo is so important and cannot be for sale under his watch.
The governor made this known in his office at the Oyo state government secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan while presenting Certificate and Staff of office to Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
He stressed that the stool of Alaafin is so significant not only to the people of Oyo town, Oyo state but the entire Yorubaland.
Governor Makinde declared that he vehemently resisted all the alleged attempts by some individuals to corrupt the selection process of a new Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.
“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”, he said.
Gov Makinde added, “When we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadan land 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”.
According to him, his stand since the contest for the new Alaafin started was that due process must be followed by the kingmakers in appointing who becomes the new Alaafin.
Speaking further, Governor Makinde said he met the newly appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, for the first time on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
“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,” he said.
It was learnt that the new Alaafin of Oyo designate, Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade arrived Oyo town at about 1pm to the waiting hands of hundreds of people in the town chanting his praises to welcome the Oba-elect.
Sources close to the Oyo palace said Prince Owoade on his arrival to the town was immediately led to a seclusion by traditional leaders for the commencement of the traditional rites ahead of his official coronation.
