Oyo Kingmakers Point out Identify of Prince Chosen as Alaafin-elect
Kingmakers in Oyo insisted that they’d chosen Prince Lukman Gbadegesin for appointment as the following Alaafin of Oyo
In a contemporary message by a quintet of Oyo kingmakers, the elders maintained that Prince Gbadegesin’s choice adopted due course of
Gbadegesin, a former private assistant (PA) to Aruna Elewi, minister through the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, was reportedly picked from amongst dozens of princes within the stool
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of expertise masking chieftaincy issues in Nigeria.Oyo, Oyo state – Five kingmakers (Oyomesi) in Oyo on Thursday, January 9, 2025, rejected an alleged transfer by Seyi Makinde, governor of the Oyo state, to kickstart a brand new course of for the number of the vacant stool of the Alaafin.
The displeased kingmakers described Makinde’s purported step as unlawful and a disregard for the judiciary.
While Governor Seyi Makinde seems reluctant to approve Prince Lukman Gbadegesin because the Alaafin-elect, the kingmakers appear decided to not go for one other candidate.
As reported by Daily Trust, the kingmakers who expressed their displeasure with this transfer are High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, Akinniku of Oyo; High Chief Wakeel Akindele, Lagunna of Oyo; High Chief Yusuf Akínade, Bashorun of Oyo; Chíef Wahab Oyetunji, warrant chief stand-in for Asipa of Oyo, and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, warrant chief stand-in for Alapinní of Oyo.
The kingmakers mentioned a majority of them have already chosen Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin because the Alaafin-elect.
New Alaafin: Oyo kingmakers disagree with Makinde
The place of the kingmakers was revealed in a letter written and signed on their behalf by their authorized consultant, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN). The letter was despatched to Governor Makinde.
A bit of the letter learn:
“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.”
Alaafin stool: Oyemesi cautions towards impunity
Furthermore, the kingmakers defined that contemplating there’s a pending court docket case on the matter, Makinde’s try and kickstart a brand new course of is a disregard to his oath of workplace, authorized and constitutional responsibility to abide by the structure, and provides utmost regard to the court docket.
They additionally famous that the governor’s transfer is just like his previous motion when he disregarded a pending case earlier than the court docket and proceeded to dissolve a democratically elected native authorities chairmen which the Supreme Court finally condemned and described as a “disturbing ugly face of impunity displayed by the governor of Oyo state, tantamounting to executive lawlessness.”
The letter famous:
“Proceeding to begin a contemporary course of for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo could be subjudice and tantamount to lawlessness and disrespect of the superior courts of report an act which your Excellency must distance your self 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 Alafin of Oyo during the pendency of a motion for injunction pending appeal in obedience to law and integrity of our courts.”
Legit.ng studies that since Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, died in April 2022, the stool of the Alaafin has been vacant.
Alaafin stool: Makinde dragged to court docket
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that some kingmakers dragged Governor Makinde to court docket over the federal government’s alleged refusal to approve the number of Prince Gbadegesin as the brand new Alaafin of Oyo.
The aggrieved kingmakers additionally sued the legal professional basic/commissioner for justice, Biodun Aikomo, and the ministry of native authorities and chieftaincy affairs in court docket.
