Archbishop Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, who is also a member of the Agunloye Ruling House of Oyo Kingdom, said that whoever succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III will inherit his wives.
He said, “The new king will inherit them and that is the tradition, but you know things are changing now. Once a woman is married to the Alaafin they are married forever to the Alaafin. You know circumstances of life are changing and we have to adjust to the changing trends.”
The Archbishop said further that the women are by tradition, married to the Alaafin institution and not the person, therefore they will be catered for by whoever assumes the throne.
“They are married to Alaafin and Alaafin is not a person but an institution. The new Alaafin will be responsible for their welfare because they are married to the institution and not just a person.”
When asked if any of the king’s widows can remarry, Ladigbolu said, “I don’t have to elaborate on that; all I can say is that they are married to Alaafin and Alaafin is not a person but an institution.”
“That is why the question of who they belong to after the death of the Kabiyesi who married them did not arise. They belong to the Alaafin. But in the light of the prevailing circumstances we will have to adjust. That is my response.”
Related: Prominent Yoruba Monarch, Alaafin of Oyo Dies At 83
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the now late Alaafin of Oyo died on Friday, April, 22, 2022, at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti. The 83-year-old monarch ruled for 52 years, making him the longest-reigning Alaafin ever. Oba Adeyemi was survived by 18 wives and unspecified number of children.
