By Oluseye Ojo
Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade will be officially crowned on Friday April 4 as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
Daily Sun exclusively gathered that various committees were being set up between the palace of Alaafin and the Oyo State Government preparatory to the historic ceremony.
The stool of Alaafin of Oyo became vacant following the demise of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.
Prior to the pending coronation, the Alaafin-designate would undertake seclusion rites, also known as Alaafin rituals, with a view to adequately preparing him physically and spiritually to step into the shoes of his ancestors.
Governor Seyi Makinde had on Friday January 10 approved his nomination and presented the staff and instruments of office on Monday January 13 at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.
His departure from the government Secretariat in Ibadan was marked by a motorcade parade. The open roof of the G-Wagon was opened from where the king’s staff of office was raised for people to see as the vehicle moved slowly out of the governor’s office.
After the brief ceremony, the new Alaafin came out of the Governor’s Office, in his Mercedes Benz G-Wagon. He raised his head through the open roof and waved his king’s horsetail. A crowd and drummers went into measured jubilation.
A full complement of security operatives from different security agencies escorted his entourage to Oyo town.
When the train got to Owode in Oyo town, the multitude that lined the roadside waved in ecstasy, saying: ‘Kabiyesi o.’
Daily Sun has reported how the then Prince Owoade arrived Nigeria from his base in Canada, ahead of his installation.
He arrived in Nigeria on Sunday January 12 from Canada, via New York, United States. Immediately he landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, he moved to Ibadan, where he stayed till Monday morning.
The report by The Sun that all markets in Oyo town would not open and that there would be no work in Oyo town on Monday January 13 came true, as a mark of honour for the new king, who holds Master of Science (M.Sc) in Mechanical Engineering from Northumbria University,