The new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, has yet to begin the month-long traditional rites to pave the way for his coronation 10 days after receiving the staff of office and certificate of appointment from Governor Seyi Makinde.
NEW DAILY PRIME reports that Governor Makinde on January 13, 2024, at the Oyo Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Ibadan, presented the staff of office to Owoade.
During the presentation, he said the coronation of the new Alaafin would take place in four weeks’ time.
“The coronation proper will take place in four weeks, but today I will hand over the certificate and staff of office,” Makinde had said.
After receiving the certificate and staff of office, the Alaafin-elect had, that day, headed to Oyo town where he was given a triumphant entry by the residents of the town.
He also visited his family house in Oyo town where he was received by family and friends.
However, contrary to some quarters’ belief that the Alaafin-elect would immediately commence traditional rites to beat the four-week deadline of the Oyo State Governor for coronation, Oba Owoade jetted out to Canada the following day.
It was gathered Owoade had to return to his Canadian base to officially resign from his workplaces and engagements in Canada.
“He (Owoade) is still in Canada. He has to resign from the places he works in Canada and perfect all those papers before returning to Oyo,” The PUNCH quoted a source as saying, on Wednesday.
The Alaafin-elect is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and President of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.
Owoade is the Project Coordinator at one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada, Manitoba Hydro.
As of Wednesday, individuals and groups that the Alaafin-elect is mandated to visit, to carry out enthronement rites, said they still awaited Owoade to begin the rites.
“He is yet to commence the traditional rites. We believe he is still preparing himself and getting ready. The process is long as he has to offer several sacrifices and do rituals. It is non-stop, once he starts, he has to visit many places, so he has to be ready.
“I can’t specifically state the number of days that the rituals will take, but it will be close to a month; as that includes the Ipebi rituals too,” one of those involved in the traditional rites said.
Documents relating to the Alaafin installation indicate that the divinely selected candidate goes to Ipebi for traditional rites and is installed as the new king after the completion of all the traditional rites.
