He said this while speaking on the disagreements that over the emergence of the next Alaafin of Oyo in the state.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has threatened to prosecute those “who collected money to destabilise the traditional institutions of the state”.
He said this while speaking on the disagreements that over the emergence of the next Alaafin of Oyo in the state.
Makinde also stated that he never saw the newly crowned Alaafin until a day before presenting him the staff of office.
Makinde, on Monday, January 13, formally presented the staff and certificate of office to Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade, marking his official ascension as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
The ceremony, held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, celebrated the enthronement of Oba Owoade as the new custodian of the Oyo Kingdom’s rich history and traditions.
He said, “This is not a day for long speeches because the coronation proper will be done in a way that the world will hear and the heavens will know. So, on that day, I will talk. The Alaafin tool is very important, not just to Oyo town or Oyo race but to the entire Yoruba race, so under my watch, I made it very clear that that the stool is not for sale.
“It is not a stool for us to toy with. I met the Prince for the first time in my life yesterday. I had never spoken to him in my entire life until yesterday, I did not know his profile or profile of any of the people or any of the princes that were vying for the stool because it was deliberate.
“I did not want to have my own opinion or push in a direction where I would be in any way influenced. Let me say this clearly, when we came into government in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadan land.
“When it was time to appoint the Oke-Ile, some people came to me and said, this is our friend, the current Oke-Ile is APC. I said it does not mean anything to me, whether you are PDP, APC.”
“Here those are people that have gone before me, my own pictures will also go there very soon.” he noted
He threatened to prosecute those allegedly planning to destabilise the traditional institutions of the state.
He said, “We will not play politics with governance. The stool became vacant in 2022. We were moving towards election and people said no, you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin, otherwise Oyo people will not vote for you. I said Okay, let Oyo people not vote for me but I will do what is right but Oyo people voted for me massively.”
“Those that are still hellbent on destabilising our traditional institution in Oyo, we will prosecute them. With the money they collected, they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiesi and lay flat. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them,” he added.
Governor Makinde’s official endorsement of Prince Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo came after the Oyomesi, the traditional council of kingmakers, selected him for the position.
The announcement was confirmed in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
Soon after the announcement about five prominent Kingmakers in Oyo town, Oyo State, rejected the announcement of Prince Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Makinde.
The kingmakers argued that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin was the rightful Alaafin-elect, citing ongoing legal proceedings concerning the selection process.
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