Despite being 80 years old, the paramount traditional ruler in Nigeria, Alaafin of Oyo is still manning his wives like a boss.Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (middle) Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and two of his youngest wives Olori Memunat Omowunmi and Olori Ola were pictured at an event in Lagos last weekend.

The traditional ruler walked around gallantly unaided in his exotic native outfit. Many have often questioned how the elderly man has been able to manage his wives in the ‘other room’ due to the toll of age on him.Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III is the Alaafin, or traditional ruler, of the Yoruba town of Oyo and rightful heir to the throne of its historic empire. He presently has 5 wives and several children.

Lamidi’s father, the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Adeyemi II Adeniran, was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). He had come into conflict with Bode Thomas, deputy leader of the Action Group.

Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.

In 1975 the head of state General Murtala Ramat Mohammed included Oba Adeyemi in his entourage to the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992. In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria.On 3 May 2011, the outgoing Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala announced that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III was no longer Permanent Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State.

The state government had just passed a law that introduced rotation of the office of Chairman between the Alaafin and his two rivals, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomoso.It was said that the measure, introduced by a state assembly with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) majority, was in response to the Oba’s support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during the April 2011 elections. The ACN beat the PDP decisively in that election.