The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has underscored the importance of upholding cultural structure and history in the Yoruba traditional system, saying that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” carry collective responsibility and must reflect long-established authority.
The monarch spoke at the Aganju Forecourt of the Oyo Palace during the installation of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland, and Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
According to the Alaafin, chieftaincy within Yoruba culture is a functional institution, not a symbolic honour, and is designed to serve the people rather than individual interests. He noted that titles with a pan-Yoruba identity differ fundamentally from local or town-based chieftaincy positions.
Oba Owoade explained that the Oyo throne historically occupied a coordinating role among Yoruba kingdoms, a position that predated colonial administration and was later documented and preserved through colonial records and post-independence governance structures.
He added that because “Yorubaland” titles speak on behalf of the entire Yoruba nation, they must originate from an authority whose influence and recognition extend beyond a single domain.
The Alaafin stated that this traditional structure has been reinforced over time by academic research, traditional councils, and judicial rulings, including judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He described the newly installed titleholders as custodians of trust and urged them to approach their roles with humility, courage, and a commitment to unity, stressing that their conduct should enhance the dignity of Yoruba tradition.
The monarch reaffirmed that order and hierarchy have always defined Yoruba governance, noting that while all thrones are sacred, their functions are historically distinct.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Finance Minister , Wale Edun, and former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
