Kingmakers in Oyo have rejected the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin by Governor Seyi Makinde, describing the decision as illegal and a violation of the traditional selection process.

In a statement issued on Friday, five kingmakers declared the appointment null and void, insisting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin remains the legitimate candidate they recommended for the revered throne.

Kingmakers Cite Previous Appointment Process

“You will recall that on 30th September, 2022, at the meeting of the Kingmakers in accordance with the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration, 1961, the Kingmakers appointed Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin of Oyo by majority of the lawful votes of the Kingmakers,” the statement read.

They further explained that Prince Gbadegesin’s name was submitted to Governor Makinde for approval, but the governor failed to act on their recommendation without providing any reasons.

“The Kingmakers thereafter filed an action to stop Your Excellency from truncating the process, culminating in the present appeal at the Court of Appeal,” the kingmakers added.

Criticism Of Consultation And Divination Claims

The kingmakers expressed shock at the government’s claim that Owoade’s selection was made after wide consultation and divination.

“We must emphatically state that the Alaafin is not chosen by consultation or divination but in strict compliance with the Registered Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1967, which codifies the native law and custom governing the selection process for the vacant stool of the Alaafin,” they stated.

The kingmakers criticized the alleged meeting convened by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, claiming it contravened the traditional process.

“Any meeting of a few kingmakers and emergency warrant chiefs held at the Governor’s office or elsewhere at the instance of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to select the preferred candidate of the Governor as the new Alaafin, is not only contrary to the native law and custom and Chieftaincy Declaration of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy but unlawful, illegal, invalid, null and void,” the kingmakers said.

They accused Governor Makinde of overstepping his authority, asserting that it is not the governor’s duty to convene a meeting to select or appoint a new Alaafin.

The kingmakers reaffirmed their commitment to the traditional processes stipulated by the 1967 Chieftaincy Declaration.

“This hurried appointment disregards the established procedures and undermines the sacred institution of the Alaafin,” they said.

The feud between Grammy Award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy and Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has had many dimensions, and one of the more interesting ones is the dollar rain it has caused for some people, who were not even involved in the dispute.

Apparently in a bid to spite Chief Priest, Burna had stated that he would bestow $30,000 on Bethel Okechukwu, a phone repairer who claimed to be Chief Priest’s brother. In the thick of their online spat, Burna had reposted a video of Bethel alleging that Chief Priest was his brother, yet he was working as a phone repairer at the popular Alaba International Market in Lagos.

Fulfilling his promise, Burna shelled out $30,000 to the alleged brother. In a video that went viral online, Bethel could be heard thanking Burna Boy for helping him escape poverty. He also called on Nigerians to join him in celebrating the singer’s generosity, saying, “God is real, Odogwu #burnaboygram, God has used you to pull me out from poverty. I will be forever grateful. Please, people, help me thank him for me.”

Responding, Burna said he was only interested in his success, and that he would be happy if he made good use of the money given to him.

However, in a swift response, Chief Priest denied any relationship with Bethel. He wrote on social media, “Alleged brother! Skit makers f**kin oppressors. Dem don kneel am down, you go still bend am down because the pain must reach everybody, but my own be say no alert oh no cash, oh I wan just dey sure say my village boy collect for real. Na still my glorious glory. Make una show workings; na musician you fit even give am verse.”

In a similar vein, Burna promised to change the life of Chief Priest’s alleged Kenyan baby mother, simply identified as Hellen. In a post about her on social media, Burna commented that he would relocate her to Nigeria and give her a job, among other things. He wrote, “We will relocate you to Nigeria, shelter you, put your son in school, and give you a job. Also, by the grace of God, @burnaboyfootballacademy will build him into a football star.”

For some years, Hellen had maintained that she had a baby boy for Chief Priest following an intimate encounter in Lagos. However, Chief Priest refused to budge, insisting that the child was not his.

In her latest interview, she stated tht she was living in abject poverty and needed help.

Though the meeting between Hellen and Burna Boy has not held, to keep his promise, he would also dole some dollars her way.

Bandits who kidnapped and killed the Katsina State Acting Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Amadu Surajo, have demanded a sum of N80m to release the abducted wife and daughter.

Surajo was kidnapped alongside his two wives, an undergraduate daughter, and other people at Mai Rana village, Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State, during an attack on the village late January 4 and earlier January 5.

The Miyetti Allah’s leader was killed by the bandits who later freed his first wife.

However, a family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the bandits had demanded N80m to free the other wife and the daughter.

According to the source, the bandits called the family at early hour on Saturday. “The bandits have reached out to the family, they asked for N80m ransom to release the other wife of the deceased and his daughter.

“At first, they insisted we must pay N80m but later slashed it to N60m. But as we speak, there is no money for us to pay for the ransom,” the source said.

Dancer and author, Kafayat Shafau, aka Kaffy, has said that any man who is interested in having a relationship with her should approach her without feeling intimidated or scared.

Kaffy, who got separated from her ex-husband, Joseph Ameh, in January 2022, told Saturday Beats, “I don’t think any man that is meant for me will be scared to approach me. I believe there are amazing and cool men out there, and those who are mine, will come. I don’t want to have that cliched thinking that men are usually intimidated (by successful women). A man who knows what he wants goes for it.

“As women, God has blessed us so much that with or without men, we can survive and even be successful. But, we also desire companionship and that is good. But, it is not a do-or-die affair. I know my value as a woman more now than ever before. Any man who has me is blessed.”

Kaffy also maintained that she was not bitter over the separation from her ex-husband. She said, “It’s just that two people are no longer in agreement. I have grown out of it. Yes, I know what was wrongly done to me; but, I don’t want to look at things from the perspective of him being bad and me being good. If something is not working, one should let it go, especially because there are children involved. If my mind does not work well, how would I raise better children?

“The more important thing is for parents to be involved in the lives of their children, whether or not they are married. But, that is one thing the world is struggling to understand. People are more worried about the union than the quality of the relationship people are forming within it.”