The Chief of Staff to the Alaafin-designate, Rotimi Osuntola, has firmly declared that there are no hindrances to the planned coronation of Engr. Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
The event is set to take place on April 5, 2025, at the Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Osuntola assured the public that all necessary arrangements for the coronation are in full compliance with historical traditions and that recent reports suggesting delays due to the absence of the Apetunmodu of Ipetumodu are unfounded.
The controversy arose after news emerged that Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetunmodu of Ipetumodu, had been missing since January 2024, leading some to speculate that his absence could affect the planned coronation.
Traditional customs dictate that the newly-designated Alaafin must receive the sword of authority from the reigning monarch of Ipetumodu before ascending the throne.
However, Osuntola refuted these claims, stating that there is no historical basis for the assertion that the Apetunmodu’s presence is essential to the coronation process.
He stressed that while recent oral traditions may have included the Ipetumodu in the narrative, historical records do not support the notion that the Apetummodu’s involvement is crucial.
“The royal office wishes to assure the Yoruba people and the general public that there is no obstacle to the coronation of Oba Engr. Akeem Abimbola Owoade I as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, The necessary rites are being conducted in strict accordance with the historical traditions of the Oyo Empire, and any claims to the contrary are misleading and should be disregarded.” Osuntola said.
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He further emphasised that the most significant ritual in the Alaafin’s installation is the presentation of the Ida Oranyan (Sword of Oranyan), a symbol of the divine authority of the Alaafin.
This sacred sword, Osuntola explained, is traditionally sent from Ile-Ife and forms the cornerstone of the coronation rites.
The Chief of Staff referenced historical sources to back his position, citing The History of the Yorubas (1921) by Reverend Samuel Johnson, which does not mention the Apetunmodu as a mandatory participant in the coronation process.
Osuntola also referred to other Yoruba historians, including C.L. Adeoye, whose work Asa ati Ise Yoruba documents the critical elements of the coronation rites, specifically the role of the Sword of Oranyan.
“The Ida Oranyan is the singular most important symbol of the Alaafin’s divine authority, representing the continuation of Oranmiyan’s legacy, After the sword is sent from Ile-Ife, it is used in the installation rites before being returned to Ile-Ife, with a replica kept by the newly coronated Alaafin.” Osuntola stated.
The state government of Oyo had previously appointed a 25-man committee, headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Demola Ojo, to oversee the coordination of the coronation event.
This came after the formal presentation of the staff and instrument of office to Owoade by Governor Seyi Makinde on January 13, 2025.
Despite the ongoing disputes surrounding the legitimacy of Owoade’s ascension, with his rivals—Lukman Gbadegesin and Ismail Owoade—challenging the process as unlawful, Osuntola’s statement serves to reassure the people of Oyo that the coronation will proceed without further delays.
The upcoming coronation ceremony is set to be a landmark event in the Oyo Kingdom, marking a significant chapter in the history of the Alaafin dynasty.
