In an appeal for unity, Prince Afolabi Aderemi Paul of Tella Gbaagi Olufunu Agunloye family has called on his fellow princes and contestants to rally behind Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo.
Emphasising the need for solidarity to ensure the progress and stability of the kingdom and Yorubaland, Prince Afolabi extended his heartfelt congratulations to the monarch, praying for his long and prosperous reign after the 30 March 2025 seclusion ends.
With the sacred Sango crown among many powerful Oyo crowns, the Alaafin now embodies divine authority as oko-oso, oko-aje, oko-alaseju baba-asete, oko gbogbo won combined, a ruler endowed with ancestral power and wisdom.
The Sango crown, a symbol of the Alaafin’s spiritual supremacy and Oyo’s rich heritage, was bestowed upon Oba Abimbola Owoade I during his initiation and coronation, affirming his role as the direct representative of Sango on earth.
Prince Afolabi Aderemi Paul, a distinguished engineer, consultant, and diaspora leader, gracefully accepted the will of Olodumare upon the announcement of Oba Owoade’s selection, as he promptly returned to Nigeria to pay homage to His Imperial Majesty, acknowledging him as the chosen one.
Beyond his professional achievements, which include leadership roles in glass and ceramics industries across Europe and executive positions in Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDO-Europe); Vice-President Afrocultural Institute Portugal, Prince Afolabi remains deeply committed to cultural preservation.
He stressed the divine sanctity of the Alaafin’s throne, affirming that “Oba Owoade has transcended mortal status to become Iku Baba Yeye (Custodian of Ancestral Wisdom) and Alase Ikéji Orisa” (Divine Representative of the Gods).”
“No force, human or spiritual, can unseat a king ordained by the gods,” Prince Afolabi declared, urging all princes and stakeholders in Oyo Kingdom to set aside differences and support Kabiyesi Owoade I, whose reign represents a divine mandate for peace, progress, and cultural preservation.
“Alaafin is Sango, Sango is Alaafin,” he proclaimed, referencing the legendary Oyo king whose thunder and fiery prowess was documented by 15th-century Portuguese explorers.
Following the historic crowning of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I with the Sango crown by Mogba Koso on March 30, 2025, Prince Afolabi affirmed that the new Alaafin, like his forebears, will be one of Yorubaland’s most powerful rulers.
“The throne of Alaafin is not a political playground but a sacred institution. The ancestors have spoken, and the will of Olodumare prevails,” he said.
Prince Afolabi called on the royal families to unite behind Alaafin Owoade I in advancing Oyo’s development, alleviating the people’s hardships, and upholding the throne’s dignity, saying, “As the political head of the Yoruba people, the Alaafin holds the authority to appoint chieftains and defend Yoruba kings on traditional matters.”
“If we unite under Kabiyesi’s leadership, Oyo will experience unprecedented growth,” Prince Afolabi declared, calling on others to join him, “Let us honour our heritage by standing with our king, for in his success lies the prosperity of Oyo and Yorubaland.”
This call for unity marks a pivotal moment as Oyo enters a new era under Kabiyesi Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, a monarch whose spiritual and traditional authority has been widely acknowledged.
While acknowledging Ile-Ife as the spiritual home of the Yoruba, Prince Afolabi’s message stands as a clarion call for Oyo princes to uphold peace and tradition for the collective progress of Yorubaland, affirming, “Aji sebe Oyo laari, Oyo o sebe baba enikan.”
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