- Safiu Kehinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cleared the air of controversies surrounding the appointment of Prince Akeem Owoade as new Alaafin as he admitted that he never met with the new monarch until yesterday.
Makinde stated this during his address at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan after presenting the Staff of Office to the new Alaafin on Monday.
While stressing on the importance of the Alaafin’s stool in Yoruba land, the Oyo governor reaffirmed his stand against putting the stool up for sale.
He dismissed claims influencing the appointment of Owoade as he held that he never knew him or any of the Princes vying for the royal stool.
“The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo town, but to the entire Yoruba race. Under my watch, I made it very clear that that stool is not for sale. It is not a stool for us to toy with.
“I met Prince for the first time in my life yesterday. I have never spoken to him in my entire life until yesterday. I do not know his profile or the profile of any of the people or any of the princes that are vying for the stool.
“It was deliberate. I don’t want to be in any way influence.” Makinde said.