By Olamilekan Abayomi
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has installed Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland. The ceremony took place on Sunday at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo town, Oyo state, and was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and other traditional rulers.
The title Okanlomo of Yorubaland translates to “the beloved child” or “one dear to the hearts of all Yoruba people,” symbolizing a custodian of Yoruba values, unity, and cultural heritage. Seyi Tinubu’s installation is seen as a significant cultural gesture, reinforcing his family’s influence within the region’s traditional power structure.
Alongside Seyi Tinubu, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State, was installed as the Obaloyin of Yorubaland, representing love, compassion, justice, and a bridge between physical and spiritual realms. Both titles come with responsibilities, including promoting Yoruba culture, advising the Alaafin, fostering unity, and advancing education and social welfare.
The installation has sparked interest, given the recent controversy between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, over the authority to confer pan-Yoruba titles. The Ooni had previously bestowed the title of Okanlomo Oodua on Dotun Sanusi, an Ibadan-born philanthropist, which the Alaafin contested.
Seyi Tinubu, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, has carved a niche for himself in the private sector, founding Loatsad Promomedia, an advertising firm, in 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Buckingham, UK, obtained in 2010.
The event highlights the enduring influence of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s socio-political landscape, where cultural authority intersects with contemporary governance and national identity.
