Royal Surprise! Alaafin Appoints Tinubu’s Ally and Top Figures To Historic Coronation Committee [Full List Inside]

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has constituted a 97-member local organizing committee to oversee preparations for his coronation ceremony, slated for April 5, 2025.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released by his Chief of Staff, Rotimi Osuntola, in Ibadan, the monarch announced that former INEC Commissioner, Kunle Ogunmola, will serve as the committee’s chairman, with Adediwura Owoade appointed as vice chairman.

Among the prominent figures on the committee are the State Chief of Protocol to President Bola Tinubu, Victor Adeleke; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; members of the Oyomesi council, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Saamu); former Oyo Central Senatorial District lawmaker Monsurat Sunmonu; current senator Dr. Yunus Akintunde; and House of Representatives member Akeem Adeyemi.

The committee also features traditional rulers such as High Chief Samuel Olu Odurinde (Alajagba), High Chief Mukaila Afonja (Baba Iyaji), High Chief Isiaka Tella (Ona ‘Sokun), High Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye (Oloja of Ago Oja), High Chief Ademola Oyediran (Alaguo), and High Chief Taiwo Olabanji (Baale Onigbanla of Gbanla). Gbenga Eko will represent the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.

Other key members include Olayide Owoade, Ayoade Owoade, Tolani Owoade, Taiwo Owoade, Azeez Fatimo (née Owoade), Rotimi Osuntola, and Oyo State House of Assembly members Gbenga Oyekola, Olorunpoto Rahaman, and Oladeji Oparinde. The list also features Segun Taiwo, Akeem Owoade, Oke Adejare Adisa, Oyedemi Olutunde Ojolowo (Mogba Koso), Yakubu Mustafa (Otun Efa), Oladele Kolade, Akintayo Suulola (Akure), Olaleye Ismail (Imam Agure), and Lati Eleyele (acting Imam of Oyo land).

The committee further includes local government and local council development area chairmen within Oyo, Iyaloja of Oyo Adijat Bakare, and representatives from various professional and security bodies. These include doctors, nurses, Amotekun, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Divisional Police Officers from Atiba, Oyo-West, Oyo-East, and Afijio local government areas, alongside representatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) in Atiba.

The committee will collaborate with a 25-member panel earlier inaugurated by the Oyo State Government, led by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Ademola Ojo.

It’s important to note that Oba Owoade had previously distanced himself from an unauthorized group that claimed to be organizing the coronation, assuring the public that he would appoint an official committee for the task.

The 97-member committee, officially approved by Oba Owoade on Monday, is scheduled for inauguration on Wednesday, February 12, at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo.