Archbishop Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, who is from the Agunloye Ruling House of Oyo Kingdom, speaks on the passage of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and the wives left behind by the monarch.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, joined his ancestors on Friday, April 22, 2022, and the struggle for his successor has begun.
Archbishop Obafemi Olaniyi said as someone very close to the monarch, Kabiyesi never behaved in any strange or abnormal way, to his knowledge regarding the number of wives he married.
Archbishop noted that the new king will inherit the wives late Alaafin of Oyo left behind and that is the tradition; adding that things are changing now.
In his words “Once a woman is married to the Alaafin they are married forever to the Alaafin”.
“You know circumstances of life are changing and we have to adjust to the changing trends”.
“They are married to Alaafin and Alaafin is not a person, but an institution. The new Alaafin will be responsible for their welfare because they are married to the institution and not just a person” he added.
Archbishop tactically avoided explaining if they could be any problem if any of the widows of late Alaafin decides to leave the palace and remarry.
He said “I don’t have to elaborate on that; all I can say is that they are married to Alaafin and Alaafin is not a person but an institution. That is why the question of who they belonged to after the death of the Kabiyesi who married them did not arise. They belong to the Alaafin. But in the light of the prevailing circumstances, we will have to adjust. That is my response”.
