Alaafin Throne: How Ifa divination located me in Canada – Oba Owoade

Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, has shared the unexpected journey that led to his ascension to the throne of the ancient Yoruba kingdom, revealing how he was selected without actively pursuing the position or any political ties.

In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, the engineer-turned-monarch explained that his rise to the throne was not through political connections, including any relationship with the governor who ultimately approved his selection.

“I swear to Almighty God, I didn’t know the governor. I never met him before. It was based on Ifa divination that I became the Alaafin of Oyo,” Oba Owoade stated.

The newly crowned Alaafin recounted the moment he learned of his selection, describing how he was in Canada when he received the life-changing news.

“I was sleeping and when I woke up, I decided to just check my phone. The next thing, I received a message from my younger brother. The message he sent was a link… I clicked on the link and the headline read: ‘Governor Makinde approves Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as Alaafin-elect,’” he recalled.

Though initially uninterested in contesting for the throne, Oba Owoade changed his mind after repeated persuasion from his family.

“I said I was not interested. But, after some persuasion, I gave in. Thank God I am here as the Alaafin and I am in Oyo to stay,” he added.

The monarch expressed his gratitude towards Governor Seyi Makinde for adhering to traditional practices in the selection process, emphasizing that politics played no role in the decision.

“I will commend the governor because he respected our culture and tradition,” he said.

He also dispelled rumours surrounding excessive spending during the selection process, clarifying that he only offered customary gifts and not large sums of money.

“It is not like giving millions – N5million, N10million or N20million. I’m telling you, I wasn’t involved in that,” he explained.

Reflecting on his time in seclusion during the Ipebi, a traditional period of cultural immersion, Oba Owoade described it as an intense learning experience. He stated that it provided him with valuable lessons about Oyo’s history and the broader political landscape of Yorubaland.

“I learnt a lot of lessons. It is a place of lifelong lessons. Traditional historians came around and they told me stories about Oyo and the politics of Oyo and Yorubaland in its entirety,” he shared.

The new Alaafin also honoured his predecessors, particularly the late Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi and Alaafin Ladigbolu I, acknowledging their influence and vowing to carry their legacies forward in his reign.

“I believe that, with the people’s cooperation, we can cover miles because Agbajo owo ni a fi n so’ya, owo kan o gb’eru d’ori,” he said, highlighting the importance of unity and collective effort.