It was pomp and pageantry on Friday at the ancient Palace of Oyo, as indigenes and residents of Alaodi Community, in the Oyo East local government area of Oyo State thronged the Aganju Forecourt in their hundreds to witness the installation of the new Head of their Community (Baale), Mr. Ayantunji Fatai Akanni.
There were songs of praise to God Almighty as well as eulogies to His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, for his visionary leadership and social justice in the choice of a rightful and reliable candidate, among others, for the headship of their serene community.
Due to the concerted efforts of the Alaafin of Oyo whose institution’s principle anchored on fairness, justice, and equity, the endorsement of Ayantunji Fatai Akanni as the new Alaodi of Oyo was received by the people of Alaodi community with thunderous ovation.
It was funfair galore , as the elated people rolled out the drums and besieged major streets in the community to celebrate with their new Baale, who they referred to as ‘’honest, sincere, and trustworthy”.
Performing the installation of Ayantunji Fatai Akanni as the new ALAODI of Oyo, on behalf of the Alaafin, Ayaba (senior Queen) Ramat Adedayo Adeyemi (Iyalekoto), who was supported by other Ayabas (Queens), admonished the people of Alaodi community to be submissive to their new Baale, who in turn is expected to rule the community for the general good and welfare of all and sundry.
He stated that a Baale is generally seen, recognised and acknowledged as the
custodian of his people’s history and culture.
“A Baale personifies his community, and represents the reincarnation of the past
ancestors of that community”.
This position, Alaafin asserted, can be harnessed in modern democratic
and development ideals to make the Baale the focal instrument of
acquiring the total cooperation, support, acceptance and consent of the general public for peace, unity, harmony and needed development.
