Adelani Adekola
Five kingmakers in Oyo town have rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive to initiate a fresh selection process for the Alaafin of Oyo, asserting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has already been chosen as the Alaafin-elect.
The kingmakers opposing the governor’s decision include the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade; the Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele; the Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf; Chief Wahab Oyetunji, a warrant chief representing the Asipa of Oyo; and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, a warrant chief representing the Alapinni of Oyo.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by their legal counsel, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), the kingmakers described the governor’s move as a disregard for a pending court case concerning the selection process.
The letter, made available to journalists on Thursday, alleged that the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, along with the chairmen of Atiba and Oyo East Local Governments, had appointed new warrant chiefs to join the existing selection committee to restart the process of picking a new monarch.
The letter read, “We have just been reliably informed 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 kingmakers to join High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) to kickstart the process of selecting another candidate to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.”
The legal counsel described the governor’s actions as unconstitutional, subjudice, and disrespectful to the judiciary.
Sobaloju further warned that proceeding with the directive during the pendency of a court case undermines governance and the rule of law. He compared it to a prior instance where the governor reportedly disregarded court proceedings to dissolve elected local government chairmen.
He cautioned, “Proceeding to commence a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin 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.”
The legal representative urged Governor Makinde to suspend plans for a fresh selection process in deference to ongoing court proceedings.
The succession crisis follows the death of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who passed away on April 22, 2022, at the age of 81 after reigning for 52 years.
