Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade will be officially crowned as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo on Friday, April 4.
Preparations for the historic event are in full swing, with various committees established by the Alaafin’s palace and the Oyo State Government to coordinate the ceremony.
The revered stool became vacant after the passing of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022. Ahead of his coronation, the Alaafin-designate will undergo traditional seclusion rites, also known as Alaafin rituals, to prepare him spiritually and physically for his new role as the custodian of Oyo’s cultural heritage.
Governor Seyi Makinde approved Oba Owoade’s nomination on Friday, January 10, and presented him with the staff and instruments of office on Monday, January 13, during a ceremony at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.
The event included a celebratory motorcade as the Alaafin-designate departed the government secretariat. Riding in a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon with the roof open, Oba Owoade proudly displayed the staff of office to jubilant crowds. Drummers and well-wishers accompanied the procession, while a full complement of security operatives ensured his safe journey to Oyo town.
As the motorcade arrived at Owode in Oyo, excited residents lined the streets, waving and chanting “Kabiyesi o” in honor of their new monarch.
Daily Sun previously reported that the then Prince Owoade returned to Nigeria from Canada, via New York, on Sunday, January 12, ahead of his installation. Upon landing at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, he traveled to Ibadan, where he stayed until his official presentation.
On January 13, Oyo town observed a day of honor for the incoming Alaafin. Markets remained closed, and work was suspended as residents celebrated their new king, a distinguished scholar with a Master of Science (M.Sc) in Mechanical Engineering from Northumbria University.
The coronation of Oba Owoade is expected to be a grand celebration, marking the beginning of a new era for the Alaafin of Oyo.
