The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alaafin

  • A god foretold palace fire incident, says Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayi-wola Adeyemi, has stated that one of the deities foretold the fire that ravaged the palace last week.

    Valuable artefacts and personal belongings were destroyed by the fire which swept 21 rooms in the palace.

    The monarch told a delegation of Chairmen, Transition Committee of local governments in his domain during a sympathy visit to the palace that the deity, Ori, had warned   of the impending fire and directed that  electric wire connecting its room be disconnected.

    He said: “We were told that there would be fire and we actually didn’t take the warning for a joke.

    “But we thought we were going to do the disconnection the following morning. That following morning never came.”

    The Alaafin said while the personal belongings could be replaced  it would be impossible to do same for the artefacts.

    “Apart from coming here to sympathise with the Oyo palace, I think we should see this incident as a colossal hit to the Yoruba race.

    “It means that most of the things that the generations succeeding us would point to as identity of their history have gone,” the monarch said.

     

  • Alaafin urges politicians to fulfil campaign promises

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has urged politicians to fulfil their campaign promises.

    Oba Adeyemi spoke yesterday after inaugurating two blocks of three classrooms at the Irepodun Araromi and Asamu community Primary Schools and boreholes built by the lawmaker representing Atiba State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr. Waliu Adekunle.

    The monarch hailed Adekunle for putting a smile on the faces of the electorate and urged politicians to emulate his gesture.

    He advised the benefiting communities to take care of the projects and support Adekunle in future elections.

    Adekunle said he was distributing materials worth N20 million to empower his constituents.

    He said N4 million was shared to 200 people to start small scale businesses.

    The lawmaker thanked the Alaafin and Governor Abiola Ajimobi for their support.

     

     

     

     

  • Police apologise to Alaafin for Sallah Day’s invasion

    Police apologise to Alaafin for Sallah Day’s invasion

    Oyo State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu has sent a delegation to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, to apologise for the police’s action on Sallah Day.

    The police, on Sallah Day, stormed the town and led the deposed Baale Ago-Oja, Ganiyu Ajiboye, to the praying ground, contrary to a court order, which stopped him from parading himself as a traditional chief in the community.

    The action almost led to the breakdown of law and order, but for the quick intervention of Oba Adeyemi, who urged the people to remain calm.

    It was learnt that Mbu yesterday raised a delegation, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Mohammed Musa, to apologise to the Alaafin for the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and policemen to the services of a deposed chief.

    While apologising to the monarch, Musa reportedly said the affected policemen had been queried and would be sanctioned.

    It was learnt that Musa said Mbu would have come in person, but he was indisposed.

    He was said to have solicited the monarch’s continued support to the police.

    Musa was quoted as saying: “We are not unaware of your support to our officers and men all the time. We implore your majesty to continue to assist us.”

    Oba Adeyemi’s spokesman Mr. Azeez Fehintola confirmed the visit. Fehintola said: “The Alaafin promised that he and his council members, the Oyo Mesi, would continue to assist the police in the discharge of their duties to ensure a crime-free society.

    “He urged the command to ensure that bad eggs in the force are not allowed to dent the police’s highly improved image.”

  • Alaafin appoints ex-governor Olunloyo Balogun of Oyo Empire

    Alaafin appoints ex-governor Olunloyo Balogun of Oyo Empire

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the weekend appointed a former Oyo State Governor Victor Omololu Olunloye the Balogun of Oyo Empire.
    At the ceremony, which coincided with the celebration of the maiden Oranyan Festival in the town, friends and well-wishers of the former governor gathered at the monarch’s palace for the honour.

    Olunloyo hails from Ibadan, the state capital.  The retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria and an Oyo Prince, Ayo Ladigbolu, made the announcement on behalf of the monarch, to round off the week-long programme.

    Bishop Ladigbolu said: “The Alaafin has sent me to announce that Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo has been appointed the Balogun of Oyo Empire.”

    Cultural activities from various parts of the ancient kingdom as well as those from Republic of Benin were displayed.

    The grand finale of the festival generated controversies since the week long programme was made public.

    Olunloyo appreciated the honour, saying he would do whatever was expected of him as a chief of the ancient town.

    On the controversial statement credited to the people of Ile-Ife about the festival, Olunloyo noted that it was unnecessary.

    He said: “The Alaafin is the Sango; he is the Oranyan; he is the real Sango. The Ooni in Ife is not an Oba; he is an abore (priest) though he is my personal friend. He is my in-law.”

    Referring to the perennial feud between the monarch and his Isale-Oyo Chief (the Ashipa), Olunloyo said there was nothing like Ago-Oja which the Ashipa was claiming to be the original title of the compound.

    The former governor said: “Ashipa was misled. Tthere is nothing like Oloja of Ago-Oja.”

    Oba Adeyemi noted that Olunloyo has been supportive since he assumed office and that he deserved the honour.

    He said the Oranyan Festival has come to stay in the history of the town because Oranyan was the greatest warlord in the history of Yoruba land.
    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi described the Alaafin as the custodian of culture and tradition.

    The governor said the festival showed that the effort of Yoruba heroes past would not be in vain.

    He added that Oranyan was the greatest warlord in Yoruba land, adding that he stood firmly to break all odds during his reign in Oyo town.

    Ajimobi said: “I want to appreciate Baba (the Alaafin) for deeming it fit to start this celebration in Oyo town. This has shown that the effort of our heroes past will not be in vain but will be transferred from one generation to another for recognition and appraisal.”