Archbishop Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, who is from the Agunloye Ruling House of Oyo Kingdom, speaks to OLUFEMI OLANIYI about the passage of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the controversies surrounding his burial, the wives left behind by the monarch and succession tradition to the ancient stool
…Let’s talk about the wives that Oba Adeyemi left behind; what will be their fate?
The new king will inherit them and that is the tradition, but you know things are changing now. 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.
But if any of them decides to leave the palace to go and remarry will that be allowed?
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 belong 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…
