By Adeyinka Adeniran
A member of the Oyomesi, the Iba Sammu of Oyoland, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale Olayanju, has said the selection and acceptance of Oba Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo has laid to rest all forms of disagreement.
Iba Sammu who was in attendance at the coronation ceremony on Saturday said such disagreement in the selection of a new monarch is not peculair to Oyo Kingdom alone, noting that it dated to many years and ages.
According to the him, it was normal to individuals to take different stances during selection process, but expected for all differences to be harmonised once the final selection or winner emerges.
He said the whole Oyo town is optimistic of a progress and positive turn around of the entire town during the reign of the new Alaafin Owoade.
He said, “We have been waiting for over three years for someone to be enthroned the Alaafin of Oyo. We are happy today that everyone now knows that we have a new King. We are optimistic that it will be good for us. Where the last monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi stopped, we are sure our new Oba Owoade will take it up from there and continue the good work.”
Speaking on the expectations of the new monarch, the Oyomesi member said, “Oyo people are expecting peace, reconciliation, unity and progress. We are appealing to our people home and abroad to come and start businesses here. There is ample land for them to start their business.
“There is no rift or disagreement between us. When we want to choose a new king, people will take different sides, it’s just like when we want to vote, people will make a choice, it’s not about fight, it’s about who wins in the long run in their choice. We don’t have any issue or infighting before until the need to select a new Alaafin. All of us can not go the same way, we have our different interests.
“Even if we have any disagreement on the matter on the selection, it just didn’t start now, it has always been like that, when it’s time to select a new monarch and it’s not peculiar to Oyo town alone. And with the choice by the government, and acceptance by the people, everything is naturally resolves and as you can see, the whole town is happy and accept the new monarch.”
