Governor Seyi Makinde has officially presented a staff of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Akeem Owoade.

Mr Makinde presented the official instrument at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital, legitimising the reign of a king to the esteemed throne.

The event took place amid controversy concerning the choice of the new Alaafin who was announced by Mr Makinde last week.

Noting the stool is important not just to Oyo town but to the Yoruba race as a whole, the governor stated he did not intervene in the appointment of the new Alaafin owing to the transparency of his administration.

“The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toil with,” Mr Makinde noted.

The governor further vowed to prosecute anybody attempting to destabilise the state’s traditional institutions.

“Let me also say briefly that those that are still hell-bent on destabilising the traditional institution in Oyo, the government is not letting down. We will prosecute them,” said Mr Makinde.

The governor added, “The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted, except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them.”