There was spontaneous celebration at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Friday, as the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State approved the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The announcement should effectively end the two-year lacuna occasioned by socio-legal succession disputes that have existed since the last Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III joined his ancestors on April 22, 2022
But prior to Friday’s announcement, five kingmakers had, Thursday, in Oyo, issued a stern warning against initiating a new selection process, stating categorically that they had already chosen Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin for the throne.
It is not immediately clear how that would play out. But the Oyo State Government, nonetheless, went ahead to name Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, announced that the governor had endorsed the recommendation of the Oyomesi, the traditional council of kingmakers, adding that the selection process followed extensive consultations and traditional divinations.
Oyelade said: “Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by Governor Seyi Makinde as the new Alaafin of Oyo.”
Governor Makinde is upbeat and very optimistic that the new monarch’s reign would bring peace, prosperity, and unity to the historic Oyo Kingdom.
“This decision has put to rest all the socio-legal controversies that have arisen since the transition of the late Oba Adeyemi,” Oyelade continued. “We urge the people of Oyo State to support the new Alaafin and join the government in celebrating this historic moment.”
That appeal notwithstanding, disputes have continued to fester over the selection process.
In a letter signed by their legal representative, Mr. Adekunle Sobaloju a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the Kingmakers blasted Governor Makinde for allegedly appointing warrant chiefs to restart the selection process, despite they, having chosen Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as Alaafin-elect.
The kingmakers – High Chief Yusuf Akinade (Bashorun of Oyo), High Chief Wakeel Akindele (Lagunna of Oyo), High Chief Hamzat Yusuf (Akinniku of Oyo), Chief Wahab Oyetunji (stand-in Asipa of Oyo), and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau (stand-in Alapinni of Oyo) – argued that the move undermined their authority and annulled their earlier decision.
The letter also noted that a court case on the matter was still ongoing, yet to be resolved, and the governor disregarded his constitutional responsibility by proceeding with the appointment.
The Kingmakers, through their lawyer, wrote:
“We have just been reliably ínformed by our clients that you have just through the Oyo State Commissioner 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 Alafin of Oyo.
“The two Local Government Chairmen and the said warrant chiefs and High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) who are not in support of the decision of the majority of the Kingmakers that selected Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alafin-elect were summoned today 9h January, 2025 to the office of the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs where they were ordered to commence a fresh process to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.”
The Kingmakers also stated that this was not the first time Governor Makinde would be disregarding the law in a crucial matter as the selection of a new Alaafin.
The said Governor’s latest action was similar to a previous one where he reportedly disregarded a case pending before a court of competent jurisdiction and proceeded to sack democratically elected Local Government Chairmen, an action that they said was roundly condemned by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, they reminded, described the sack as “disturbing ugly face of impunity displayed by the Governor of Oyo State, tantamounting to executive lawlessness.”
The Oyo State Government is yet to respond to the accusation by the Kingmakers.
