OYO CROWNS NEW ALAAFIN
After a three-year wait, Oyo has finally crowned a new king, Oba Abimbola Owoade1 as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
Emmanuella Olagunju 
Three years after the death of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Oyo finally crowns a new king. On Saturday 5th April, Oyo held the coronation ceremony for the new and 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade 1, at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo.
Recall that the seat of the Alaafin was left empty after the death of the old Monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died on April 22, 2022 at the age of 83, after combating complications related to prostate enlargement. The process of selecting a new Alaafin began since then with various qualified princes contesting the throne. Eventually, Oba Owoade was selected and was presented with the staff of office and instrument of office at the Governor’s office in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Monday 13th January, 2025.
The coronation ceremony hence took place after he successfully completed the compulsory 21-day traditional rites known as Oro Ipebi on 29th March. At the venue, a high chief, Chief Oyewale, expressed the tussle that went indoors to select the Alaafin, and likened the contest for the throne to an election. He further stated that when Oba Owoade was finally selected, the crisis and clash of interests among the Oyo Mesi (Kingmakers) came to an end.
The event was graced with the presence of the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and other high dignitaries including the minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who represented President Bola Tinubu, the former deputy governor of Oyo state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin; as well as high Monarchs including Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi and Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba, Iba Gani Adams, among others.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OBA OWOADE
Oba Owoade
Oba Abimbola Akeen Owoade was born on 17th July, 1975 into the royal family of Owoade-Agunloye, Agure compound, Oyo state, and married to Olori Abiwumi Owoade. He is a paternal great-grandson of Alaafin Lawani Amubieya Agogoja, through Agogoja’s son Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade. His great grandfather, Oba Lawani, who was the eldest son of Alaafin Adelu, ruled Oyo between 1905-1911 as British Vassal (a king who ruled under the influence of the British authority)
He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro Ogun State and The Polytechnic of Ibadan, Oyo State, where he acquired an OND and HND respectively. He further obtained a bachelor’s degree at the University of Sunderland, and a Master’s degree at Northumbria University, both in Mechanical Engineering.
Oba Owoade has worked in places like the Nigerian Gas Company, as a Mechanical intern, Oceanic Bank PLC, as a teller, and Manitoba Hydro in Winnipeg, Canada, as a project coordinator.
He is committed to providing support to relatives, family, friends and the entire community.
