The Oyo Royal Palace has refuted claims that the upcoming coronation of the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engr. Akeem Abimbola Owoade I, is in jeopardy due to the alleged absence of a particular traditional ruler from Osun State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the palace confirmed that the coronation would proceed as scheduled on April 5, 2025.
The rebuttal follows a media report which suggested that the installation rites were incomplete without the presence of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu. However, the Chief of Staff to His Imperial Majesty, Rotimi Osuntola, dismissed the claim as “misleading” and lacking historical basis.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the installation of the Alaafin follows a well-documented tradition that has been upheld for centuries,” the statement read. “Reverend Samuel Johnson’s The History of the Yorubas (1921) and other historical accounts do not mention the Apetumodu as a mandatory figure in the process.”
The palace reiterated that the most crucial element in the coronation rites is the receipt of the Ida Oranyan (Sword of Oranyan) from Ile-Ife. This sword, representing the divine authority of the Alaafin, is traditionally sent from Ile-Ife to Oyo during the Ipebi rites before being returned, with a replica given to the new Alaafin.
The statement emphasized that while oral traditions may have evolved over time, the documented history of Oyo coronations remains unchanged. “The Yoruba tradition is rich and adaptive, but it does not deviate from its established and documented practices,” Osuntola noted, citing works such as Asa ati Ise Yoruba by C.L. Adeoye and consultations with elders who witnessed past coronations.
The palace assured the Yoruba people and the general public that there are no obstacles to the coronation of the 46th Alaafin. It also called on media organizations to ensure accuracy in their reporting, particularly on cultural and historical matters.
“We expect The Nation Newspaper to take appropriate steps to correct this misleading report,” the statement concluded.
With preparations for the coronation in full swing, Oyo remains poised to welcome a new era under Oba Owoade I, as the revered throne of the Alaafin continues its centuries-old legacy.
