ABIMBOLA Owoade has been officially crowned as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
He succeeded the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi II, who died in April 2022.
His coronation, held on Saturday, April 5, at Oliveth Baptist High School in Oyo town, drew a crowd of traditional rulers and dignitaries led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Among those present were the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
The state governor had on January 13 presented the staff of office to Owoade at the Governor’s Office in Agodi, Ibadan, formally recognising him as the new custodian of the ancient Oyo Kingdom.
At the time, the governor expressed confidence in the monarch’s ability to unify the kingdom and uphold its rich cultural legacy.
Makinde described the monarch as a custodian of Oyo’s rich heritage, expressing optimism that the new Alaafin’s reign would foster unity and preserve the cultural legacy of the historic kingdom.
He said, “We are assured that Oba Owoade will lead with wisdom, integrity, and a strong commitment to fostering unity.”
