The entirety of the Olawoyin Royal Family of Babakekere Compound, Oke-Afin area, Oyo, extends its most profound felicitations to Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade upon his ascension to the throne of our ancestor as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Like the tender shoot of a mighty iroko that promises shade and strength, we pray fervently that divine guidance illuminates your path as you steer the course of the ancient city of Oyo and, by extension, the broader Yorubaland. We entreat you to wield the exalted scepter of the Alaafin to weave a tapestry of peace, harmony, and serenity among the people, safeguarding the dignity and rights of both indigenes and sojourners within Oyo and its diaspora. Let the positive advancement of Oyo and its citizenry remain your lodestar. May providence bestow upon you the wisdom and fortitude to crown your reign with resounding success.
In like manner, we extend our accolades to the Oyo State Government, under the astute leadership of Governor Engnr Seyi Makinde, for filling the storied throne with a descendant of Prince Owoade, ushering in an unprecedented chapter in the annals of the Alaafin dynasty.
Equally, we felicitate with the Chairman of Atiba Local Government Area, Hon. Wahab Waliu Adetunji (WABKEM) as well as the chairmen of Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West Local Government Areas for witnessing this development. Yet, even as the drums of celebration resound, the process leading to this historic announcement casts a shadow of contention.
Tradition, which has always been the cornerstone of our heritage, reveals that the selection of the Alaafin was historically the sole responsibility of the Oyomesi, without the involvement of the Ifa oracle. Having consulted Ifa Oracle in the selection process of the new Alaafin which now sparks debate within the community, is a flagrant deviation from the established norms.
To cast light upon precedent, one may recall the events of 1968-1970, following the transition of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin to the ancestral plane. Among fifty-four aspirants was Prince Tijani Adebayo Olawoyin Atiba, now the Mogaji of the Olawoyin Royal Family.
Through meticulous deliberations led by the Oyomesi and facilitated by Baba Iyaji, the list of contenders was distilled to three, including Prince Olawoyin Atiba. By divine orchestration, the late Oba Adeyemi III ultimately mounted the throne, a process unclouded by the invocation of Ifa oracle divination.
Given the current discord, we urge the Oyomesi to mend internal rifts and harmonise their ranks, ensuring that unity and progress remain the hallmark of Oyo’s future. Likewise, we call upon Governor Seyi Makinde to extend the olive branch, reconciling with the Oyomesi through open dialogue, thereby fostering lasting peace and mutual respect. It is germane that the governor holds the historical and cultural significance of the Oyomesi in high esteem, ensuring a symbiotic relationship that prioritizes Oyo’s development under its newly crowned monarch.
Furthermore, we implore Governor Makinde to address the inequities entrenched in the extant 1961 declaration, which narrows eligibility for the Alaafin throne to merely two sons of Alaafin Atiba, despite his extensive lineage. This decree, long critiqued as defective by the 1976 report of Adekunle O. Ladeinde inquiry Commission, advocates for the establishment of a singular Atiba Ruling House to encompass all the Atiba descendants. We appeal for the redress of this historical anomaly, granting equitable opportunities to all heirs of Alaafin Atiba and rectifying the grievances of those of us who are marginalized from our ancestral heritage.
We also appeal to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, to collaborate with the state government in revising this declaration, ensuring the inclusion of all excluded descendants of Atiba. This act of equity would honor the birthrights of families like the Olawoyin, Agbonhin (Allah ni yio bo Asiri), Ogo, Adelabu, Adediran, Adesetan, Tella Okitipapa, Tella Agbojulogun, Adesokan, Abidekun, and many others.
In conclusion, we once more congratulate Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade on his ascension to the throne of our ancestor and pray for a reign marked by sagacity, justice, and decisions that echo across generations, ensuring the enduring prosperity and unity of Oyo.
Signed:
Prince Tijani Adebayo Olawoyin Atiba
Family Head (Mogaji)
Prince Dr Rasheed Olawale Olawoyin Atiba
Secretary
