After spending nearly two months in Canada, Oba Akeem Owoade, the designated Alaafin of Oyo, arrived at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja on Wednesday evening. He is set to travel to his hometown, Oyo, on Thursday, just a month before his official coronation as the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, which is scheduled for April 5.
Owoade’s journey to the throne began on January 13, when Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde formally presented him with the certificate and staff of office at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan. During the ceremony, Governor Makinde announced that the coronation would take place within four weeks. However, shortly after receiving the staff of office, Owoade returned to Canada, where he resides, to finalize his resignation from his professional commitments.
The Alaafin-designate, a real estate investor and financial services professional, also serves as the Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, one of Canada’s largest utility providers for electric power and natural gas. His return to Nigeria marks the beginning of preparations for his coronation, including the performance of essential traditional rites.
Rotimi Osuntola, Chief of Staff to the Alaafin-designate, confirmed Owoade’s arrival and urged the people of Oyo to give him a warm welcome. “He arrived safely in Nigeria on Wednesday evening. The Alaafin will be in Oyo town by noon on Thursday and looks forward to seeing the people of Oyo come out in large numbers to receive him,” Osuntola said.
Stakeholders in Oyo town have also acknowledged Owoade’s return, with some planning to travel to Ibadan to join his entourage for a ceremonial entry into Oyo. In the days leading up to the coronation, the Alaafin-designate will undergo traditional rites, including the Ipebi (seclusion) ritual. This process involves spiritual guidance from the Oluawo (Ifa priest) and the participation of the Oyo Mesi, priests, and priestesses, all of whom play crucial roles in ensuring the spiritual authority and divine connection of the new monarch.
Preparations for the coronation are well underway, with state and local organizing committees working diligently to ensure a successful event. However, the process has faced legal challenges. Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, a contender for the throne, has filed a lawsuit arguing that Owoade’s selection violates the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. Another lawsuit, initiated by Prince Ismaila Owoade, challenges his exclusion from the selection process.
Despite these legal disputes, the state government and traditional institutions remain committed to proceeding with the coronation as planned. The event will not only mark the ascension of a new Alaafin but also highlight the cultural and spiritual significance of the ancient Oyo monarchy.
As Oyo prepares to welcome its new king, the nation watches with anticipation, eager to witness the culmination of a process deeply rooted in tradition and heritage.