EXCLUSIVE: HOW I PREDICTED OWA OBOKUN KINGSHIP AT YOUTH – ENGINEER LATEEF BAKARE

Kingmakers in Oyo, collectively known as the Oyomesi, have declared the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde illegal and invalid.

The state government had earlier announced the approval of Owoade as the new Alaafin, ending a two-year vacancy of the revered stool. However, the Oyomesi, led by High Chief Yusuf Akínade, the Basorun of Oyo, rejected the appointment, stating that the selection did not follow the due process outlined in the Registered Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1967.

OYOMESI'S STAND ON THE ALAAFIN SELECTION PROCESS

The Kingmakers, consisting of Yusuf Akinade, the Basorun of Oyo; Wakeel Akindele, the Lagunna of Oyo; Hamzat Yusuf, the Akinniku of Oyo; Wahab Oyetunji, a warrant chief standing in for the Asipa of Oyo; and Gbadebo Mufutau, a warrant chief standing in for the Alapinni of Oyo, emphasized in a letter to the Governor signed by their legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, that:

The Bashorun of Oyo, as head of the Oyomesi, is the only authority empowered to summon a meeting to select an Alaafin.

Prince Luqman Adelodun Gbadegesin was lawfully selected as Alaafin by a majority vote during a meeting on September 30, 2022. His name was forwarded to the Governor for approval but was not approved.

The announcement of Prince Owoade's appointment, following alleged consultation and divination, does not align with the codified customs in the 1967 Chieftaincy Declaration.

OYOMESI'S REJECTION OF OWOADE'S APPOINTMENT

The Kingmakers rejected the process that allegedly took place on January 9, 2025, at the Governor's office, where "a few kingmakers and emergency warrant chiefs" were said to have selected Prince Owoade. They emphasized that this violated the tradition and the declaration guiding the Alaafin's selection process.

The Oyomesi insisted that Prince Luqman Gbadegesin had already been chosen as the new monarch in compliance with the traditional process and should be recognized as the rightful Alaafin.

THE OYOMESI'S DEMAND

The Oyomesi called on Governor Makinde to respect the established native laws and customs by acknowledging Prince Luqman Gbadegesin as the rightful Alaafin. They warned that any deviation from the tradition not only undermines the sanctity of the stool but also threatens the stability of the Oyo Kingdom.

As the disagreement unfolds, the matter has reportedly escalated to the Court of Appeal, where the Kingmakers seek to uphold their selection of Prince Gbadegesin.

The Nation