BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
The seemingly slow process of choosing a new Alaafin of Oyo is causing disquiet in the kingdom one year after the demise of the long-reigning Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi.
Oba Adeyemi’s 51 years on the throne made him the longest reigning Alaafin before he died on April 22, 2022 at the age of 83 years. He passed on at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, following a brief illness.
The Alaafin stool rotates between two ruling houses in Oyo Kingdom – Agunloye and Alowolodu. The late Adeyemi was from the latter. This means that the Agunloye ruling house will produce the next Alaafin.
Following Alaafin Adeyemi’s death, an intense competition ensued between the Agunloye princes, who registered their aspiration to mount the throne to the Oyo Mesi through the Baba Iyaji, the leader of ruling houses.
According to Oyo tradition and the Alaafin Chieftain Declaration, the law governing the process of succession, Baba Iyaji would present the list of the princes to the Oyo Mesi whose head, the Bashorun, would then convene a decision after some screening.
The decision meeting, to be witnessed by government officials, would feature a consensus or voting where there is a plurality of choices.
It was reported that this process has been completed since October 2022 when the Oyo Mesi chose a prince by consensus and forwarded the decision to Governor Seyi Makinde.
It was also gathered that the Oyo State Government had in August 2022 directed the Atiba Local Government secretariat, the custodian of the Palace of the Alaafin, to begin the formal administrative process for the selection of the next Alaafin.
Subsequently, the local government’s chairperson, Mojisola Olakojo, had asked Baba Iyaji, who is the traditional head of the ruling families, Mukaila Afonja, to send the list of the candidates.
In September 2022, it was reported that Afonja submitted a list of 86 princes to the local government.
“Full activity is yet to return to the town since the demise of Oba Adeyemi. Even the government knows that an attempt to ignore the throne is a deliberate attempt to run down the economy of Oyo town. There is a spiritual blessing from the throne of the Alaafin that always prospers commerce and industry here”
The Point gathered that the formal screening of the princes then began on September 5, 2022.
As empowered by the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, Oyomesi reportedly took the vote and submitted the name of the candidate to the state government in October.
An insider source at the palace of the Alaafin reportedly said that the name of the successful candidate was sent to the state government on October 4. But the government has since said nothing on the matter, leading to anxiety in the kingdom.
By law, the governor has to give a space of 21 days within which aggrieved parties are required to submit petitions against the process. It was reported that no petition was submitted.
It was learnt that Governor Makinde, however, decided to put the process on hold until after the just concluded general elections.
Outcry over delay in announcement
A section of the community is angry because, since the demise of the former Alaafin, important cultural and traditional activities in the ancient kingdom have been put on hold.
Also, the Muslims are angry that a new Chief Imam cannot be appointed for the Central Mosque in the city because the Alaafin stool is vacant.
In a video clip, a popular preacher, Muhyideen Bello, was seen urging the authorities to expedite the processes for the enthronement of the new monarch.
Another popular Islamic leader in the city, Abdulmajeed Alawaye, appealed to the governor to make the announcement. The cleric appealed to the governor not to give room for the public insinuation that he pays more attention to Christians than Muslims in the state.
“If we don’t have a monarch we can’t have a Chief Imam and we want to have an Imam. Everybody knows that. In fact, since the beginning of the last Ramadan, I have been clamouring that another monarch should be enthroned as soon as possible. Even Islam as a religion doesn’t like that a group of people will be living without a definite leader among them,” the cleric said.
An indigene of Oyo, Ayo Kamorudeen, also said the need for the announcement of the next Alaafin could not be overemphasized.
“The Alaafin and the economic development of this town are inseparable.
“Full activity is yet to return to the town since the demise of Oba Adeyemi. Even the government knows that an attempt to ignore the throne is a deliberate attempt to run down the economy of Oyo town. There is a spiritual blessing from the throne of the Alaafin that always prospers commerce and industry here,” Kamorudeen said.
Why emergence of new Alaafin, Soun is delayed – Makinde
However, Governor Makinde has explained the reasons behind the delay in the emergence of the new Alaafin of Oyo and Soun of Ogbomosoland, adding that it was to allow due process to be followed in their selection to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.
Makinde made this known on April 26 in Ibadan while swearing in the new Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima.
Makinde said he had already communicated to the kingmakers in the two towns that an institutional framework should be followed in the selection of new Alaafin and Soun.
According to him, once due process is followed, things generally will work out more efficiently.
“We have gone through a situation where a king was removed by the judiciary in the state after he had been on the throne for over 22 years. And I said to myself, not under my watch are we going to repeat the same mistake. I will rather delay and have due process followed.
“Then, if anybody decides to go to court after the emergence of the new traditional rulers, such exercise might be a nullity.
“I believe this is what we need in Nigeria right now – strong institutions.
“But, we also need people to build them, people with experience, capacity and people with strong conviction to do what is right.
“That is why the appointment of people like Justice Iyabo Yerima is important because she has experience in leadership,” Makinde said.
New Alaafin may emerge before May 29 – Oyo kingmaker
However, on the same date, the Iba Samu of Oyo Empire, Lamidi Oyewale, who is one of the ‘Oyo Mesi’ (King Makers) in Oyo town, said that a new Alaafin of Oyo will likely emerge before May 29 this year.
He said the delay in the current ongoing process to choose the new monarch is to have rancour-free coronation and a peaceful reign of the new monarch.
A rumor had filtered on the social media that one of the contestants for the stool, Prince Lukman Mofojudola Ayinla Gbadegesin Agunloye, had been appointed as the new monarch.
Speaking in Oyo town at the one year remembrance prayer for late Alaafin, Oyewale urged people to be patient. He noted that the process of choosing the monarch is a painstaking one and assured that there won’t be any problem when the new king eventually emerges.
According to him, Oyo town had in the past been without a king for over three years and there was no problem or a breakdown of law and order.
“It’s just a year since the late Alaafin died. Before the swearing-in of the governor, a new Oyo monarch will emerge.
“I don’t want to comment much on the process of the emergence of the new Alaafin. I’ve said a lot of things and been granted a lot of interviews concerning it. Though we have little challenges, my prayer is that God will give us another king that will better our lives.”
People at the one-year remembrance prayer eulogized the late monarch for his efforts towards development, sustainability and upholding unity of Yoruba land, saying the vacancy the monarch left would be hard to be filled.
Dignitaries at the event included Mogaji Hassan Oranlola, the Aminu Mumina of Oyo State, Alhaji Yakubu Manasara, Imam Alaafin, Alhaji Muhammed Olanrewaju, Alhaji Mudashiru Yusuf and Alhaji Muhammed Bashir among others.
Another source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the process for the selection of a new Alaafin was still ongoing and the report of the consensus candidate had not been presented to the governor for final ratification.
He disclosed that Prince Gbadegesin had been over-ambitious using the media to achieve his personal ambition.
The source further noted that Governor Makinde just forwarded a letter to the Oyomesi to expedite action on the selection process, and he said, the outcome of the process would be made known soon.
He said: “He is only too ambitious. He is using the media to make himself popular. No new Alaafin has emerged. The selection process is still on and we must follow due process as instructed by the governor.”
“I am saying this without any equivocation that the public should disregard the news widely spread around by him.” No one has selected him as the Alaafin-elect.”
“You know, he had his birthday yesterday (April 26) and he’s trying to use the media to help himself and find favour.”
“According to Oyo tradition and the Alaafin Chieftain Declaration, the law governing the process of succession, Baba Iyaji would present the list of the princes to the Oyo Mesi whose head, the Bashorun, would then convene a decision after some screening.”
“The decision meeting, to be witnessed by government officials, would feature a consensus or voting where there is a plurality of choices,” he declared.
Nine royal families protest exclusion from selection process
Meanwhile, nine royal families which were excluded from the selection process of a new Alaafin have protested their exclusion from the process.
The excluded royal families insist they are also entitled to the new seat.
It was gathered that 116 aspirants were shortlisted but only 57 people were interviewed.
This is despite Baba Iyaji, the head of princes in Oyo, submitting all the applications to the Bashorun of Oyo.
However, it was learned that a letter was then sent from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in conjunction with Atiba Local Government directing the Baba Iyaji to attend to only Agunloye ruling house.
But from the current outlook, the process is encountering a major challenge as nine royal families in the town said that they had been sidelined.
They noted that there was a pending court case challenging the selection process.
The families called on Governor Makinde not to approve the appointment of a new monarch until the pending court case was resolved.
The nine royal families are Adeitan family, Olanite family, Tella Agbojulogun, Tella Okitipapa family, Adediran Ese Apata family, Adesokan Baba Idode family, Adesiyan family, Abidekun family and Adelabu Baba Ibadan family.
They were represented by Prince Adesina Afolabi (Adeitan family), Prince Lamola Olanite (Olanite family), Prince Nureni Taiwo (Tella Agbojulogun family), Prince Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa family), Prince Raji Adediran (Adediran Ese Apata family), Prince Muftau Adejare Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode family), Prince Adesiyan (Adesiyan family) Prince Bello Rasheed (Abidekun family) and Prince Agboin Adelabu Adelabu Baba Ibadan family, at a press conference.
They made the demand while addressing a press conference recently at Akinmorin town near Oyo.
In their statement, they said it was important for Governor Makinde to maintain the status quo and respect the autonomy of the traditional institution until the court case is resolved.
“We have gone through a situation where a king was removed by the judiciary in the state after he had been on the throne for over 22 years. And I said to myself, not under my watch are we going to repeat the same mistake. I will rather delay and have due process followed”
They stressed that this will not only ensure a smooth transition process but serve as a testament to the Governor’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting justice and equity in the state.
“It is essential that Governor Makinde prioritises the resolution of the court case before any action is taken with regard to the appointment of a new Alaafin. This will ensure that the process is transparent, fair and just as required by the law.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is time to put an end to the years of discrimination that has plagued the selection of the Alaafin of Oyo in the past.
“The nine Atiba children have been marginalised for too long, and it is only fair that they are given a chance to ascend the throne. We urge the Governor to make history by selecting the new king from among the nine Atiba children.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has been found to have a defective process and it is crucial that equity and justice are upheld in the selection of the new Alaafin. We cannot afford to have a flawed process that will only perpetuate the marginalisation of nine out of the children of Alaafin Atiba,” they said.
They also called on the governor to make history by selecting the new king from among the marginalised Atiba children and setting a precedent to future selection process.
They further asked the court to declare the 1976 report as the only legal instrument to select new Alaafin- Prince Afolabi.
In a related development, one of the members of the nine royal families, Prince Adesina Afolabi, stated that the nine families have approached the court to declare the 1976 report as the only legal instrument in selection of new Alaafin.
He revealed also that the nine Atiba royal families have asked the court to declare Atiba Ruling House as the only Ruling House in Oyo.
He said, “119 were shortlisted, but 57 were interviewed, while 62 people were disqualified. 28 candidates are from the nine royal families.
“In the year 2020, we asked the court to declare the Chieftaincy Declaration defective.
“Finally, an interlocutory injunction to stop the ongoing process to choose the new Alafin by Oyomesi, Atiba Local Government, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Attorney General of Oyo state and the Governor of Oyo state. The case is at court 1, under Justice Akintola.”
