The newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Hakeem Owoade, has paid a historic courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, further reinforcing ties between Nigeria’s foremost traditional institutions.
The meeting, held at the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto on Monday, May 19, 2025, was marked by elaborate fanfare as the Sultan personally welcomed the Alaafin, signaling the importance of the visit and the Yoruba monarch’s status as a key ally in the preservation of national unity.
During the engagement, Oba Owoade expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between traditional rulers to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges. He noted the Sultan’s longstanding cordial relationship with his predecessor, the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and expressed readiness to build on that legacy.
In response, Sultan Abubakar hailed the Alaafin’s visit as a milestone for national unity. “When traditional rulers meet and dialogue, insha Allah, we can solve our problems,” he said, acknowledging the mutual role monarchs play in national peace and development. He further affirmed that royal institutions remain a stabilizing force, as they intimately understand their people’s needs.
READ ALSO: Ibadan leaders reject Alaafin’s permanent chairmanship plan
Sultan Abubakar also reflected on his visit to Oyo for Oba Owoade’s coronation, calling the new monarch’s early outreach a sign of commitment to unity. He described kingship as a divine calling ordained from birth, saying, “Nobody can stop it when it is Allah’s will.”
Prominent members of the Sultanate Council present at the event included Waziri of Sokoto, HRH Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu; Magajin Rafi Sokoto, HRH Alhaji Rilwanu Bello; Galadiman Gari, HRH Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru Galadanci; and Sarkin Kilgori, HRH Dr. Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori.
The Alaafin was accompanied by Prince Hakeem Adeyemi, lawmaker for Oyo Federal Constituency, and high-ranking Oyomesi chiefs. During the visit, he also met with the Yoruba community in Sokoto, urging them to remain peaceful and uphold the dignity of their heritage.
This visit comes shortly after the Alaafin’s recent audience with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, underscoring his proactive efforts to establish strategic royal and political connections early in his reign.
TheDefender
