The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has announced plans to confer chieftaincy titles on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, and Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, who represents Zamfara West in the National Assembly.
According to information contained in a flier circulating on social media and obtained by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, Seyi Tinubu will be installed as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland, while Senator Yari will receive the title of Obaloyin of Yorubaland.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 21, 2025.
The flier, jointly issued by the monarch and his wife, Ayaba Abiwumi Owoade, invited members of the public to attend the event and urged them to reserve the date.
The title Okanlomo of Yorubaland is regarded as a highly respected Yoruba honour, loosely translated as “the beloved child of the people,” and is used to signify affection, prominence, and relevance within the Yoruba race.
Confirming the development in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, said the installation would proceed as announced.
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“Yes, it is true. The Alaafin of Oyo wants to install Seyi Tinubu as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland and Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari as the Obaloyin of Yorubaland,” he said.
Durojaiye added that an official statement on the event would soon be released.
“The press statement on the said event would be made available today or anytime soon,” he noted.
The planned installation comes months after a similar title conferment by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, who named Ibadan-born philanthropist and Bada Olubadan-designate, Dotun Sanusi, as the Okanlomo of Oodua. That development had sparked a brief supremacy debate between the two revered Yoruba monarchs before intervention by regional stakeholders eased tensions.
More recently, the Ooni of Ife also bestowed the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, with the chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua. Mrs Tinubu arrived at the palace amid tight security and fanfare, where she was received by the monarch and his chiefs.
That ceremony, which took place at the palace square, formed part of activities marking Oba Ogunwusi’s 10th coronation anniversary.