The collection of a brand new Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom has been marred by controversy and delays. Regardless of the kingmakers, often called the Oyo Mesi, presenting a option to the federal government, the method has stalled on account of authorized disputes, inflicting nervousness within the kingdom, writes OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN
April 22, 2024 makes it precisely two years since some of the revered monarchical stools in Nigeria turned vacant, following the demise of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. The continual delay within the set up of a brand new monarch has been elevating mud, contemplating the sanctity of the stool within the conventional establishment within the nation.
Oba Adeyemi, the longest-serving Alaafin within the historical past of the Oyo kingdom, died in April 2022 on the age of 83, after a 51-year reign.
Upon his demise, efforts had been made by the kingmakers, often called Oyo Mesi, to appoint and set up a brand new monarch. The Alaafin’s stool rotates between two ruling homes within the Oyo Kingdom, the Agunloye and Alowolodu ruling homes. The speedy previous king was from the latter, which signifies that the Agunloye ruling home will produce the following Alaafin.
In keeping with the Oyo custom and the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration, which is the legislation governing the method of succession, the Baba Iyaji, who’s the top of all of the princes in Oyo, will current the record of princes to the Oyo Mesi and the record can be acquired by the top of the kingmakers, the Bashorun, after which he’ll convene a choice assembly after screening.
The choice assembly, to be witnessed by authorities officers, encompasses a consensus or voting the place there’s a plurality of selections. After a choice has been made, the Bashorun will then talk the kingmakers’ option to the native authorities in writing.
In keeping with a number of sources within the Oyo kingdom, who spoke with The PUNCH, the method has been accomplished since October 2022, when the Oyo Mesi selected a prince by consensus and forwarded the choice to the Oyo State Authorities.
For the Oyo Mesi, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin led within the choice, defeating 81 different contestants who expressed curiosity within the stool. Following the conclusion of the choice course of, Gbadegesin’s identify was despatched to the federal government.
Three kingmakers — the Agbakin of Oyo, Samu of Oyo and Alajagba of Oyo — nonetheless, dissented out of the Oyo Mesi. The dissenting kingmakers famous that Gbadegesin’s choice was not correctly performed and based mostly their grouse on the allegation that one of many seven kingmakers who voted throughout the course of was not certified to take part as a result of he did so on the time of the vote as a warrant chief.
Statutorily, the Oyo Mesi, the recognised kingmakers within the Alaafin choice course of, needs to be seven in quantity. There are 5 dwelling members of the seven-man Oyomesi and they’re: Yusuf Ayoola (Bashorun), Lamidi Oyewale (Samu), Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin), Hamzat Yusuf (Akinniku), and Wakeel Oyedepo (Lagunna). Two positions of Ashipa and Alapini are vacant, following the demise of the earlier chiefs.
Nevertheless, two warrant officers, Gbadebo Mufutau (Alapo) and Wahab Oyetunji (Aare In the past), had been appointed to satisfy the required circumstances within the collection of the brand new king.
When contacted, the Baba Iyaji, Mukaila Afonja, instructed The PUNCH that he had performed his half by submitting the names of the princes to the kingmakers.
He, nonetheless, faulted the kingmakers for transmuting the identify of the profitable candidate to the federal government with out his data.
The Baba Iyaji additional famous that though just a few of the kingmakers had reservations over the choice course of, the concluding a part of the method that will produce a brand new monarch was left to each the kingmakers and the state authorities.
“Sure, they’ve agreed on the following Alaafin however once they had been going to submit his identify, it was performed with out my data and it’s not imagined to be like that. In the meantime, what we heard was that the identify submitted had been petitioned and the governor then stated they need to go and reselect, to protect in opposition to the scenario of dethronement.
“Regardless of the governor’s recommendation, the kingmakers repeated the identical identify. No matter, I’ve handed over to the kingmakers,” Afonja stated.
Two sources within the palace, who’ve good data of the continued tussle, instructed our correspondent that Governor Seyi Makinde appeared not within the candidate introduced by the kingmakers.
One of many sources, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to talk on palace points, famous that the matter had generated anger in the neighborhood. He added that residents consider that the delay by the federal government was a tactic to subvert the desire of the kingmakers.
“We’re all watching and observing the scenario, it will likely be an assault and the primary of its sort for that matter for the federal government to meddle in points regarding the enthronement of a brand new Alaafin. We now have gathered loads and all people is patiently wanting.
“Princes had proven curiosity, the kingmakers had voted, and a prince had been chosen, so what’s the drawback? If the governor doesn’t place confidence in the collection of the kingmakers, perhaps one other choice needs to be carried out amongst them, free of presidency affect,” the supply said.
The PUNCH experiences that the kingmakers dragged the federal government to courtroom, praying that the courtroom restrained the state governor and his brokers from nullifying the selection of Gbadegesin and “approving or recognising some other candidate” as the following Alaafin, “after a duly carried out course of for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo, in accordance with the native legislation, customized and Chieftaincy Declaration of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”
The swimsuit marked HOY/38/2023 earlier than the Oyo State Excessive Courtroom suffered a setback on April 17 because the kingmakers’ prayers weren’t answered and the swimsuit was struck out.
When contacted, the ex-Commissioner for Native Authorities and Chieftaincy Affairs, Segun Olayiwola, said that the state authorities was finding out the courtroom judgment and different points on the matter and promised that very quickly, the general public would hear from the federal government.
The PUNCH had spoken with him earlier than the latest cupboard shake-up, which moved Olayiwola to the Ministry of Institution and Coaching.
Olayiwola stated, “Simply as you will have heard of the judgment, so I additionally did. We’re finding out the judgment and you need to have heard that it has additionally been appealed, so we’re finding out the event and really quickly, you may be listening to from us.”
On the allegation that the Oyo State Governor was excited about who turned the following Alaafin, Olayiwola stated the one that made the assertion “doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
He added, “Anyone alleging an curiosity doesn’t know what he’s saying. His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, doesn’t have any curiosity in whoever turns into the following Alaafin of Oyo and I, Olusegun Olayiwola, who’s working with him on this matter, would not have any of such curiosity.
“Governor Makinde has no curiosity in anyway, he isn’t married to an Oyo individual and neither of his mother and father are associated to Oyo in any type. Our concern is, and he has been saying it, that the stool of the Alaafin is vital, a historic stool within the African setup and never only for the Yoruba race. Because of that, the stool isn’t on the market. We aren’t going to toy with something about that.”
He, nonetheless, assured the residents and watchers of the event to stay calm, including {that a} clear process that can produce the following Alaafin will quickly start.
“I can guarantee you that by the point we select the following Alaafin, the entire world will know that nobody had an curiosity in who turned the following Alaafin. I can guarantee you that the governor has no candidate, I additionally don’t have a candidate, so who dare now has a candidate?
“We’re simply following the due course of and we’re of the opinion that the stool of the Alaafin isn’t on the market and that’s it. Simply wait and see what’s going to occur very quickly, as a result of the federal government has no real interest in anyone. What we would like is to have an individual that God has ordained and when the process begins, you will note that it’s not about curiosity.”
Talking on the disaster bedeviling the stool of the Alaafin, the top of the kingmakers, historically often called the Bashorun, Excessive Chief Yusuf Ayoola, famous that the issues had been in courtroom however challenged Olayiwola to come back ahead with a report of any try to unload the stool of the Alaafin.
“I can’t converse on the matter now as a result of the matter is in courtroom. However the commissioner, who stated the stool of the Alaafin isn’t on the market, ought to come ahead with any report or proof exhibiting that anybody is attempting to promote the stool.”
