The wait is over; the coronation has arrived. After nearly three years of tiring anticipation, the intense controversies, and ceaseless legal battles, the Oyo Kingdom finally has a new monarch. Governor Seyi Makinde’s approval of the 49 year old Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo has fired both celebration and continuous debate over the future of the most powerful throne in Oyo State, one that holds consequential influence within the Yoruba race.
With his ascension to the throne of his fathers, a new era unfolds, one laden with full-bodied difficulties, from reconciling historical and ongoing disputes to steering the evolving expectations of traditional and political leadership in a quick changing world. Now, as he ascends this throne, the pressing questions remains: Can Oba Owoade rise to the ever pressuring occasion? Will his reign match the ageless legacy of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who ruled for over five decades? More substantially, how will his emergence structure the future of the Alaafin stool and the Oyo Kingdom at large?
Well, like his predecessor, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Oba Owoade’s path to the throne was anything but smooth. The Alaafin stool, one of the most renowned in Yoruba land, has always been heavily contested, but this particular selection process was particularly turbulent, an experience the entire Oyo will not soon forget.
The powerful Oyomesi, the traditional kingmakers, originally favoured Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as Alaafin-elect, a decision Governor Makinde rejected. The governor indicted the kingmakers of accepting bribes to influence their choice, a claim they blatantly denied. The deadlock led to a fresh selection process, during which the governor insisted on consulting the Ifa oracle to determine the rightful heir. Not long after, the intervention of Professor Wande Abimbola, a respected Ifa scholar, played the consequential role in finalizing the selection. Through divination, Oba Akeem Owoade was finally chosen. Despite lawsuits challenging the process, the state government proceeded with his confirmation and now has the seal to lead the Oyo people.
But these questions remain crucial: Did Seyi Makinde led government overreach in overriding the kingmakers’ initial choice? Does the reliance on Ifa divination uphold or weaken traditional kingmaking processes? Will those who opposed Oba Owoade’s selection eventually align with him, or will the Alaafin stool remain contested even after the coronation? While these concerns crawl, only time will unfurl whether his ascension unites or further divides the kingdom.
Again, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III was an high-rise figure, ruling for 52 years and increasing Oyo’s cultural and political influence on both national and international stages. His reign encouraged global engagements, powered Yoruba identity, and secured the heritage of the kingdom. Now, Oba Owoade inherits not just the prestige of the stool but also its colossal burdens.
His professional background, spanning mechanical engineering, project management, and real estate investment, may suggests a modern and global perspective. However, can this translate into a potent reign planted in Oyo’s deep traditions? His agenda which he highlights to include empowering youths through vocational training and employment initiatives, modernizing festivals and building a museum to preserve Yoruba culture, negotiating the return of Yoruba artifacts taken by the British in 1895, and promoting economic development through local and international partnerships.
Evidently, these are industrious plans, but the task lies in influencing a balance between tradition and modernity. How will a Canada-based professional transition into leading a deeply cultural and historically rooted institution? Will he earn the heavy trust of traditionalists who may view his global experience as a departure from the past? Can he walk through the sensitive tensions between modern governance and the traditional authority of the Oyomesi? The answers to these questions will define his reign.
Once again, many may have forgotten the weight of the Shadow of Isale Oyo. Beyond economic and cultural initiatives, one of the most crucial and unavoidable challenge facing the new Alaafin is reconciliation with Isale Oyo over the murder of the late Ashipa of Oyo, High Chief Amuda Olorunosebi, in 1992. Yes, for over 30 years, this unsettled issue has formed a deep war between the Alaafin stool and the people of Isale Oyo. Late Governor Akala and Governor Makinde’s appointment of Alago Oja of Ago Oja, Alhaji Ganiyu Busari Ajiboye, as a warrant chief in the Alaafin selection process only reignited tensions. While, many in Isale Oyo also believe that if Oba Owoade officially identifies and installs Ajiboye as Ashipa, it would heal the longstanding injury. Even so, will the new Alaafin take this bold step? If he does, will it consolidate his political and traditional authority, or provoke further resistance from fighting factions within the Oyomesi?
So, What Lies Ahead? with his coronation, Oba Akeem Owoade berths on one of the most complex leadership journeys in Yoruba history. The Alaafin stool is not just the regular throne, it is a symbol of Yoruba history, power, and foremost identity. His ability to unite the kingdom, especially in the face of ongoing legal battles and historical disputes, will be so crucial. He must also gain the whole loyalty of the Oyomesi, and aggrieved Oyo “warlords” whose division over his selection remains a creeping issue.
There is also the oppugn of proving his leadership to Oyo traditionalists who may see him as an “outsider” due to his long stay abroad. While his promises of youth empowerment, economic development, and cultural rebirth are commendable, their execution will require careful navigation of Oyo’s traditional structures. Can he modernize the kingdom without alienating the custodians of its heritage?
Finally, one need to ask this question silently, can Oba Owoade Rewrite History?
As Oyo moves forward under Oba Akeem Owoade, the kingdom stands at a weighty moment. Will he seal his name in history as a the needed unifier and reformer, or will his reign be remembered for the many controversies that surrounded his emergence? This is more than a ascension; it is the beginning of a new battle for legitimacy, influence, and legacy.
Also, will his global experience help or hinder his reign? Can he unite Oyo despite the disputes over his selection? Will his possibly modern approach strengthen or weaken the traditional institution of the Alaafin? The future of the Oyo Kingdom, and perhaps the broader Yoruba leadership structure, hinges on the answers to these questions. What do you think?
Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun writes for Oyo Affairs
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