OYO: Alaafin postpones 50th coronation anniversary indefinitely

*Decision is to “respect for sanctity of human life” and in “national interest”

THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has postponed indefinitely the celebration of his 50th coronation anniversary due to the second wave rage of the Covid-19.

This decision is contained in a statement the monarch personally signed and issued to newsmen on Saturday.

Oba Adeyemi ascended the throne on January 14, 1971 as a young man of 31.

The King, who has turned the celebration of his ascendancy to the throne into a kind of ritual, had made adequate arrangements for an eleborate event this year also but for the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that he had been able to convince his traditional cabinet of the need to postpone the event, as a sign of respect for the sanctity of human life.

“As usual, all those who know the importance of the Alaafin stool to the Yoruba nationhood, both at home and in the diaspora, had indicated their intention to be physically present on the occasion, ” said the king in his statement.

He said, “Against the backdrop of the current global pandemic of Covid-19, I have got to make a rethink on the timing of the celebration.

“With very strong personal pain but with respect for the sanctity of human life, I have been able to convince my traditional cabinet (Oyomesi) of the need to postpone the event.

“The event is postponed till after the pandemic might have gone in no distant future”.  

The oba added that the logistics of effecting social distance rule and the need of harbouring visitors from abroad for the mandatory two weeks isolation informed the decision.

“Consequently, between personal interest and national interest, especially when it comes to the sanctity of human life, the choice is clear for any patriot.

“While regretting any inconveniences the postponement might have caused, the sanctity of human life is more important to me than any social engagement,” he said.