Oyo State Lead representative, Seyi Makinde, says the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo isn’t available for sale.
The lead representative said he met with the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, without precedent for his life on January 12, 2025.
Makinde made this known on Monday when he introduced the instruments of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The occasion occurred on Monday at the Executive Chamber of the Lead representative’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan.
The lead representative maintained that he chose not to intrude in the appointment of the new Alaafin because of his administration’s belief in openness and straightforwardness.
He said, “The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. In this way, under my supervision, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toil with.
“I met Prince Owoade for the first time in my life yesterday (Sunday). I never spoke to him in my entire life until yesterday. I did not know his profile or the profile of any princes vying for the stool, and it was deliberate because I did not want my opinion to influence the process.
“Let me say this plainly; when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadan land and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.
“At the point when it was the ideal opportunity for us to approve the selection of Okere, some people came to me and said ‘This is our friend’. They said one person is APC and I said it does not mean anything to me whether you are PDP or APC. Why should my decision be based on political consideration? So, I approved the selection of the Saki kingmakers.
“I generally tell people not to kill themselves over politicians, since we see ourselves in the night. We go to each other’s houses. Politics, electioneering, is a game. It’s only when you have been elected, then governance becomes a serious business because you will take decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.
“The Alaafin stool became empty in 2022. We were moving towards election and people said, you need to endorse the arrangement of Alaafin, in any case, Oyo individuals wouldn’t decide in favor of you. I said individuals shouldn’t decide in favor of me yet, that I would make the wisest decision and Oyo voted for me massively. Oyo will continue to support me.”
He cautioned those attempting to weaken the traditional institution in Oyo, saying the government will arraign them. “The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them,” he said.
