The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, was conspicuously absent from the opening ceremony of Oyo State at 50, which was held on Monday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
At the event, Governor Seyi Makinde gave a welcome address while the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, gave a goodwill message.
Prompt News recalls that the military government of the late General Murtala Mohammed, created Oyo State on February 3, 1976.
Brigadier David Jemibewon was appointed as the first military governor.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, and other Oyo monarchs.
The Oyo State @ 50 Anniversary Committee is chaired by a former two-term Member of the House of Representatives, Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi.
The celebration will continue on Tuesday, 27th January, 2026 with two major events, namely; Health Outreach and Film Show.
On Wednesday, 28th January, 2026, an anniversary carnival walk will be held, with artisans, students, traders and other residents of the state moving from the historic Mapo Hall to Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
One of the major highlights of the Oyo State @ 50 anniversary celebration is the symposium scheduled to hold on Thursday, 29th January, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with the theme: “Consolidating the Legacy: Navigating the Present and Reimagining the Future.”
The lead speaker is Prof. Olu Ajakaiye. Other guest speakers are; Prof Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Prof. Dikirulahi Yagboyaju and Dr Durodola Kamoru Ogunsesan.
This will be followed by a Jumat Service on Friday, 30th January, 2026, at the Ibadan Central Mosque, while on Saturday, there will be Isese service for traditional worshippers.
Akinade-Fijabi added that on Saturday, 31st January, 2026, a novelty football match will take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, between a team led by Governor Makinde and a team led by football icon of Oyo State’s extraction, Mutiu Adepoju.
On Sunday, 1st February, 2026, a Thanksgiving Service will hold at St Peter’s Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan, which will be followed by an event tagged ‘An Afternoon with the Elderly and PLWD’, to be held at the Omololu Olunloyo Park, Airport Road, Ibadan.
The absence of the Alaafin reinforced the perceived conflict between the two traditional rulers.
There was a recent public encounter between the Alaafin and Olubadan when both monarchs attended the 2026 interfaith gathering held at the Grand Space near the Oyo State House of Assembly, where an interaction between them drew widespread attention and went viral on the social media.
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