Alaafin stool: Oyo Mesi members were present when I consulted Ifa —Prof Wande Abimbola

Speaks on How Islam came into Yorubaland’

Interview by Lasisi Olagunju, Festus Adedayo and Saheed Salawu

 

January 18, 2025

A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), Professor Wande Abimbola, was third republic Majority Leader of the Nigerian Senate. The professor of Ifa divination who was installed as the Awise Awo Agbaye in 1981 at Ile Ife, speaks with LASISI OLAGUNJU, FESTUS ADEDAYO and SAHEED SALAWU on the role he played in the emergence of the new Alaafin of Oyo. He also talks about other issues affecting religion, culture and tradition in Nigeria and Yorubaland in particular.

You were involved in the choice of the Alaafin. How did it start?

Well, someone interviewed me yesterday or day before and it has gone viral. I don’t regret what I said, but I don’t want to say too much anymore; only to let you know that for the first time in modern times in Yorubaland, Ifa played a key role in the selection of a prominent oba. I said for the first time because in the past, in the entire Yorubaland, that is how it was always done. Ifa used to be the one who would pick the successor to the king who died. And any time they did that, it was not done with the influence of money or position. The choice of Ifa was always respected. But in recent times, they don’t do that anymore; it is now usually done with the influence of money. So, I was happy and surprised, too, that we could find a governor who says that we should consult Ifa. A year or two ago, we divined and it was so easy to pick someone, anyone — I didn’t want to know the person. That was how Ifa selected a person.

We did it and for a long time, we didn’t hear anything again. Actually, I came home for the marriage of one of my sons in Lagos. When the governor heard that I was around, he said he was just about to send for me again because he was ready, and the kingmakers were fighting among themselves. Some of them were questioned by the EFCC because it was allegations galore; some of them received money, plenty of money. Two days ago, they summoned me again and he said they presented names to me last year so, which one? I said the one Ifa picked remained the choice of Ifa. Fortunately, when they screened him, that number one, they didn’t find anything wrong; he hadn’t committed any crime. They know how they do their own screening. That was the person whose name was announced.