Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has indicated that the passage of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III has naturally stopped the installation of the Speaker as Aare Baasofin of Yorubaland.
A statement signed by Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, and released to newsmen on Sunday said Oba Adeyemi III communicated the conferment of the title of Aare Baasofin of Yoruba Land to the Speaker through an appointment letter but due to the tight work schedule of the Speaker, the chieftaincy ceremony could not hold throughout 2021, until this year when the date of May 27, 2022, was agreed with the palace.
The statement reads:
“You will recall that his Royal Highness, the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III communicated the conferment of the title of Aare Baasofin of Yoruba Land to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila through an appointment letter dated September 7, 2021, and presented to the Speaker on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the National Assembly, Abuja, by members of the Oyomesi Council led by the Bashorun of Oyo Kingdom, High Chief Olayinka Ayoola, who is the traditional Prime Minister of Oyo Kingdom and Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu; upon which the Speaker, in turn, accepted the appointment with gratitude to God.
“However, due to the tight work schedule of the Speaker, the chieftaincy ceremony could not hold throughout 2021, until this year when the date of May 27, 2022, was agreed with the palace, but as God in His majesty will have it, the revered monarch passed away on Friday night before the distribution of invitation cards for the event (May Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus).
“Naturally, the event can no longer hold as the Speaker, the entire Yoruba race and Nigerians home and abroad mourn the demise of the widely respected monarch.