The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has set up a 97-member local organising coronation committee to oversee activities for the ceremony fixed for April 5, 2025.
The monarch, in a statement by his Chief of Staff, Rotimi Osuntola, in Ibadan, the state capital, announced a former Independent National Electoral Commission Commissioner, Kunle Ogunmola, as the chairman of the committee and Adediwura Owoade as the vice chairman.
Other prominent members of the committee are the State Chief of Protocol to President Bola Tinubu, Victor Adeleke; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; two members of the Oyomesi, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Saamu); former lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Monsurat Sunmonu; current lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Dr Yunus Akintunde, a member of the House of Representatives, Akeem Adeyemi,
Traditional rulers on the committee are High Chief Samuel Olu Odurinde (Alajagba); High Chief Mukaila Afonja (Baba Iyaji); High Chief Isiaka Tella (Ona ‘Sokun); High Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye (Oloja of Ago Oja); High Chief Ademola Oyediran (Alaguo); High Chief Taiwo Olabanji (Baale Onigbanla of Gbanla); Barejiroro Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gbenga Eko, who represented the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams.
The committee will work alongside the 25-member committee earlier inaugurated by the Oyo State government and headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Ademola Ojo.
The PUNCH reports that the monarch had earlier disowned a committee claiming to handle the task and promised to personally announce and assign responsibility to an official committee.
Oba Owoade, on Monday, approved the 97-member committee, and slated Wednesday, February 12, for its inauguration at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo.
Also on the list are Olayide Owoade, Ayoade Owoade, Tolani Owoade, Taiwo Owoade, Azeez Fatimo (nee Owoade); Rotimi Osuntola; members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Gbenga Oyekola, Olorunpoto Rahaman and Oladeji Oparinde; Segun Taiwo; Akeem Owoade; Oke Adejare Adisa; Oyedemi Olutunde Ojolowo (Mogba Koso); Yakubu Mustafa (Otun Efa); Oladele Kolade; Akintayo Suulola (Akure); Olaleye Ismail (Imam Agure) and Lati Eleyele (acting Imam of Oyo land).
Chairmen of local government areas and local council development areas in Oyo environs; the Iyaloja of Oyo, Adijat Bakare; representatives of doctors; representatives of nurses; zonal commandant of Amotekun; representatives of the Federal Road Service Corps, representatives of the Fire Service; representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Divisional Police Officers of Atiba, Oyo-West, Oyo-East and Afijio local government areas and the Department of State Security at Atiba also made the committee, among others.
Osuntola stressed that the local committee would collaborate with the committee set up by Governor Seyi Makinde to facilitate the effective planning and execution of the historic event.
“This momentous occasion aims to unite Yoruba land, encouraging the active participation of stakeholders from within and beyond the region.
“The ultimate goal is to deliver an all-inclusive, epoch-making, grand, and hitch-free coronation that proudly showcases the rich Yoruba cultural heritage to the world,” the statement said. (Punch)
