AS Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State presented the staff of office to the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, on Monday, tongues are still wagging why the selection process was so controversial and unnecessarily prolonged.

Though the same scenario played out in 1970 when Prince Lamidi Adeyemi, the successor to Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu 11 was announced by the defunct Western Region, no one in his wildest imagination thought the road to one of the foremost traditional stools, could be so chaotic, rough and bumpy. 

The Alaafin stool was vacant for almost three years after Oba Lamidi Adeyemi joined his ancestors.

The new Alaafin will understand, more than anyone else, that indeed, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Presentation of Instruments of office

Immediately after the approval of the new Alaafin last Friday, the Oyo State Government moved swiftly to present the instrument of office to the new monarch.

The presentation, which took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, was not given much publicity.

Alaafin stool not for sale —Gov Makinde

Apparently alluding to allegations that money exchanged hands among the kingmakers, who did the initial nomination of Prince Gbadegesin and presented same to him, he vowed that he would not sit by and watch the stool of Alaafin commercialized.

The governor went further to say that he would ensure that anyone found culpable of collecting money in the selection process would be prosecuted.

Oyo Mesi will be prosecuted — Makinde

The governor gave the estranged kingmakers an option if they don’t want to be prosecuted.

“Let me also say briefly that those that are still hell-bent on destabilising the traditional institution in Oyo, the government is not letting down. We will prosecute them. The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them,” the governor maintained.

“The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toy with.

“From today, we have an Alaafin. I congratulate the Alaafin of Oyoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade. I pray that your reign shall bring unity to Yoruba race wherever they may be around the world,” Governor Makinde said.

I met new Alaafin first time on Sunday— Gov Makinde

To further prove that he was very transparent in the whole affair, he explained that he was meeting him (Alaafin) for the first time.

“I met Prince Owoade for the first time in my life yesterday. I never spoke to him in my entire life until yesterday. I did not know his profile or the profile of any of the princes vying for the stool and it was deliberate because I did not want my opinion to influence the process.

“Let me say this clearly; when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.

“When it was time for us to approve the selection of Okere, some people came to me and said: ‘This is our friend’. They said one person is APC and I said it does not mean anything to me whether you are PDP or APC. Why should my decision be based on political considerations? So, I approved the selection of the Saki kingmakers.

“I always tell people not to kill themselves over politicians, because we see ourselves in the night. We go to each other’s houses. Politics, electioneering is a game. It’s only when you have been elected, then governance becomes a serious business because you will make decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.

“The Alaafin stool became vacant in 2022. We were moving towards the election and people said, you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin, otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you. I said the people should not vote for me but that I would do what was right and Oyo voted for me massively. Oyo will continue to support me. The coronation would be in four weeks”

I will work for progress of Oyo Town, Nigeria .. Alaafin

While responding after the presentation of the staff of office, the new monarch promised to work relentlessly for the progress of the ancient city.

Process to select new Alaafin tantamount to subjudice —Kingmakers

Meanwhile, some members of Oyo Mesi, who are kingmakers, have distanced themselves from the appointment of the new Alaafin.

Through their counsel, Adekunle Sobaloju, SAN, the kingmakers distanced themselves from the appointment.
Those who opposed the move by the governor are High Chief Yusuf Akínade, Bashorun of Oyo; High Chief Wakeel Akindele, Lagunna of Oyo; High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, Akinniku of Oyo; Chíef Wahab Oyetunji, warrant chief and stand-in for Asipa of Oyo, and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, warrant chief stand-in for Alapinní of Oyo.

The kingmakers in a letter signed by their legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju, SAN said: “We have just been reliably ínformed by our clients that you have just through the Oyo State Commissíoner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairmen of Atiba and Oyo East Local Government appointed (i) Chief Odurinde Olusegun Alajagba of Ajagba) (ii) Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye (Alago-Oja of Ago Oja) as warrant kíngmakers to join High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) to kick-start the process of selecting another candidate to fill the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

“Proceeding to commence a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo would be subjudice and tantamount to lawlessness and disregard of the superior courts of record an act which your Excellency ought to distance yourself from.

“We, therefore, once more request and urge your Excellency to suspend any plan to kick-start fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo during the pendency of a motion for injunction pending appeal in obedience to law and integrity of our courts.”

How selection process turned controversial

After the death of Oba Adeyemi on April 22, 2022, about 198 contenders signified their interest to assume the revered throne.

But, the number was pruned from 65 to 10 by the Oyo Mesi, a council of kingmakers after a rigorous interview and consultation with Ifa Oracle.

After the nomination of Prince Gbadegesin by the estranged kingmakers, there was a row among the kingmakers over the sum of money allegedly offered them.

Vanguard gathered that it was the sharing formula that sowed the seed of discord. It was alleged that two of the kingmakers felt the larger portion of the cake was taken by one of them.

Inundated with complaints and alleged ‘greased palms’, the governor restrained himself from giving approval to the name forwarded to him by the kingmakers.

The governor insisted that due process must be strictly adhered to.

The governor, as reliably gathered instructed the kingmakers to go back to the drawing board by re-consulting Ifa Oracle which the kingmakers rejected.

Ifa Oracle consulted outside Oyo

In what could be termed an unprecedented move, the state government reportedly sought the services of Professor Wande Abimbola, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife and the head of all Ifa oracle diviners to ask Ifa Oracle which of the aspirants he preferred.

Ifa picked Prince Owoade — Prof Abimbola

In a viral video last weekend, Prof Abimbola was heard saying that the Oyo State government contacted him on the divination process.

According to the Ifa diviner, the Oyo State Governor called him to ask Ifa who the right choice would be.
The Professor of Yoruba explained the rigour he went through before picking the new Alaafin.

He said: ”I spent ten days seeking the face of Ifá oracle and Ifá made its choice. Ifá chose Prince Owoade.”

The Ifa representative also alleged that the Oyo kingmakers tried to persuade him to stick to their initial nomination to which he said no.

The matter is in court— Head of Oyo Mesi

When Vanguard called the Head of Oyo Mesi, who is also the Bashorun of Oyo, Chief Yussuf Ayoola, he said he wouldn’t want to comment, the ball is in the governor’s court.

“I don’t want to say anything about it since the matter is in court. The Law is much more powerful than the person who made it. We shall be waiting for the court decision”, he said.

When asked if the ancient town had experienced a delay of this nature before in enthroning a new Alaafin, he answered in affirmative saying “Yes, it has happened before but I can’t remember the time. But, there is a difference between the delay that happened in the past and the delay being experienced now. Then, it was the people of Oyo that caused the delay but now it is the government that is responsible.”

We’re not happy about the delay — Afonja, head of princes

When Vanguard called the head of all princes in Oyo, Chief Afonja, he simply said the matter was now with the kingmakers.

Afonja said: “We are not happy too that it is taking this long. If you have the number of Oyo Mesi, call them and help us appeal to them to do the needful.

“We had a meeting on the issue last week Saturday. We said at the meeting that we don’t like how the selection process is foot dragging. The Oyo people are not happy that a new Alaafin of Oyo has not emerged.”

Prolonged delay is very disturbing —Residents

One of the indigenes of Oyo town, Mr Jayeola(other name withheld) told Vanguard that the selection process will “continue to drag until the state government hands off on the emergence of the new Alaafin. All that it is required to do is just to give approval. But, when the government is saying there’s a petition against the nominated candidate by the Oyo Mesi, it speaks volumes.”

“I think the state government should just give approval to whoever is presented to it and anyone who is aggrieved should go to court. Almost three years now, there’s nobody sitting on the Alaafin stool. This is not good. The people of Oyo have spoken through the Oyo Mesi; let the state government stop stalling the process.”

Another source said: “If I’m asked to say anything about the Alaafin stool, I will say it’s becoming evident who is preventing the installation of our new king.”