Princes from nine royal families in Oyo, known collectively as the Atiba 9, have strongly opposed the appointment of Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo. The group labeled the decision as a violation of Oyo’s sacred traditions and legal guidelines.
The controversy began after Governor Seyi Makinde officially presented the staff of office to Owoade on Monday. The Atiba 9 accused the governor of acting on a declaration made by US-based Ifa priest, Professor Wande Abimbola, who claimed that Ifa chose Owoade for the throne.
However, the princes argued that this decision bypassed long-standing cultural and traditional practices essential for selecting the Alaafin.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Prince Sina Afolabi of the Adeitan royal family issued a statement on Tuesday. He emphasized that the nine families, which include Tella Okitipapa, Olanite, Adelabu, Adeniran, Tella Agbojulogun, Adesokan Baba Idode, Adesiyan, and Abidekun royal lines, have legitimate claims to the throne. They insist that due process must be respected to preserve the sanctity of Oyo’s royal heritage.
Afolabi said, “What the governor did was totally against the highly revered Alaafin stool. His action has reduced the throne to an object of ridicule. It was expected of Governor Makinde, an apostle of due process, to have followed a just line of action and avoid reducing the Alaafin stool or the Alaafin to an Oba Gbandu or Oba Yebuyebu (an ordinary oba without honour).
“When the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, was to be made the oba, he entered Ipebi and everything was done in accordance with the custom and tradition of Ife before he was proclaimed as the Oonirisa.
“We don’t want our revered stool or the Alaafin to become an object of ridicule and mockery in the future. We don’t want him to be referred to as an oba that was anointed in Ibadan, precisely at the Office of the Governor. We don’t want people to refer to him as an Alaafin that did not enter Ipebi.
“The Alaafin of Oyo is a prominent and first-class traditional ruler in the entire Yoruba land. We, the Atiba 9, are against the process embarked upon by the state government to make Omooba Owoade the Alaafin. It should be stopped and the right thing must be done in appointing a new Alaafin.
“We don’t have anything personal against Omooba Owoade who was appointed as the Alaafin on Monday. He too made efforts to become the oba. We don’t have any personal issues with Omooba Lukman Gbadegesin either. However, our group is against the process through which Owoade and Gbadegesin emerged as candidates for the Alaafin stool.
“And what Governor Makinde had done by making Omooba Owoade the Alaafin is an attempt to ridicule the throne. We, the Atiba 9, don’t want it! We respect Professor Wande Abimbola who consulted Ifa, but if he wants to be fair to all, he should come and consult Ifa at Ojude Ogun here in Oyo.”
The Atiba 9 also urged the Oyomesi, led by Basorun Yusuf Akinade, to resolve any internal disagreements amicably.
They emphasised that the Oyomesi remained the only body with the authority to initiate the process of selecting a new Alaafin.
“Whatever is the grouse or disagreement between the Basorun and other members of the Oyo Mesi should be resolved. They should call themselves together and settle their crisis amicably before any process of installing a new Alaafin can be embarked upon,” the statement added.
Afolabi declared that with the current arrangement, any occupant of the Alaafin stool would lose respect from other Yoruba obas.
He added, “If we should look at it critically as things stand now, some obas who are supposed to be taking instructions from the Alaafin will not be doing that; they will not respect him as they will see him as not being properly appointed. The Alaafin should not be reduced to an ordinary oba.
“These are our grouses. We are not against whoever is appointed as the Alaafin, but the process must be in accordance with our established custom, culture, tradition and the rule of law. Whoever that emerged through such a process will be acceptable to us.”
