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Tag: Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade

  • Alaafin seeks establishment of military base, full investigation into National Park killings

    Alaafin seeks establishment of military base, full investigation into National Park killings

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has condemned the brutal attack on Oloka village and the killing of forest rangers within Old Oyo National Park.

    In a statement issued by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch called for the establishment of a military base at Otefon Village to fortify the region and secure the Oyo-Oduduwa corridor.

    He also called for the deployment of the ‘Yoruba Defence Force Battalion’, under joint command of the Nigerian Army and traditional warrior chiefs, to patrol the park 24/7 and repel invaders.

    This is as the monarch called on the Federal Government and particularly the Ministry of Defence to declare Otefon a strategic National Security Zone and fund the construction of barracks, watchtowers, and a helipad within the next few months.

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     Alaafin said: “The recent brutal killings inside Old Oyo National Park, especially the massacre at Oloko, are not merely a ‘security breach.’ It is a dagger plunged into the heart of our ancestral empire. Our sacred forests, our game reserves, our historic grounds, where our kings once hunted with spears and drums, are now being turned into slaughter yards by armed marauders. This will not stand.”

    The monarch described banditry and other security challenges facing the country as ‘gory, worrisome and disturbing’, noting that security was critical to the survival of any nation to forestall lawlessness, chaos and disorder.

    He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s demonstration, through actions, that ending insecurity is one of his administration’s foremost concerns.

  • On Alaafin and Oluwo’s current camaraderie

    On Alaafin and Oluwo’s current camaraderie

    Since the coronation of Alaafin Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the southwest monarchy has been ignited by various controversies surrounding issues of supremacy among the traditional rulers.

    However, this tension appears to be gradually dissipating as many have turned to history as a guiding influence. In the months following his ascension, the new Alaafin has notably fostered a relationship with many kings going to visit them in return for the role they played during his coronation; notably and most recently the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi. Their growing camaraderie has sparked debate, with some observers suggesting that other kings in the South-West should take cues from their interaction.

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    Critics, however, caution that Oluwo’s close ties with Alaafin Owoade might draw undue attention and could potentially complicate the new Alaafin’s reign. Some believe that Oluwo’s controversial nature, evident in his recent public disputes with the Ooni of Ife among his other colleagues, has motivated him to align himself with the new Alaafin, possibly in search of legitimacy or support.

    Inside Oyo Town, there are whispers of dissent among high-ranking chiefs regarding the Alaafin’s newfound association with Oluwo. Some chiefs have expressed concern and advised the Alaafin to tread carefully, emphasizing that he is still acclimating to the complexities of Nigerian royal politics. “The Alaafin is not accustomed to navigating the intricate power dynamics among the monarchy,” a source close to the Oyo royal house noted. “Some of those who advised him initially have since been relieved of their duties. We have worked to surround him with knowledgeable advisors who understand the delicate landscape of traditional rule. He must interact with a wide array of kings rather than aligning too closely with just a few.”