Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has affirmed that the Alaafin of Oyo’s throne is not for sale.
Speaking on Monday during the presentation of the instruments of office to the newly appointed Alaafin, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, the governor disclosed that he met the monarch for the first time on January 12, 2025.
The presentation ceremony was held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, located at the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan.
Governor Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to openness and transparency, noting that he deliberately refrained from influencing the selection process for the new Alaafin.
He said, “The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. So, under my watch, 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 of the princes vying for the stool and it was deliberate because I did not want my opinion to influence the process.
“Let me say this clearly; when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.
“When it was time 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 always tell people not to kill themselves over politicians, because 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 vacant in 2022. We were moving towards election and people said, you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin, otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you. I said the people should not vote for me but that I would do what was right and Oyo voted for me massively. Oyo will continue to support me.”
He warned those trying to destabilise the traditional institution in Oyo, saying the government will prosecute 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.