By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Kingmakers’ selected candidate for the Alaafin stool, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of usurping the powers of the Oyomesi and violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 with his appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Additionally, Gbadegesin said Makinde’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicts the judgment of the Oyo State High Court of 19th December 2022, which declared Ifa consultation in the selection process unlawful, as It Is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
Consequently, he has headed to court to challenge the appointment and presentation of the staff office to Prince Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by the governor.
Gbadegesin is praying the court to set aside the appointment, approval of appointment and presentation of staff of office to a new Alaafin carried out by the governor.
In a pre-action notice signed by his legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, a copy of which was said to be addressed to the governor, he insisted that the governor’s actions run foul of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law 2000.
According to him, the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after his selection, lack credibility and were not formally communicated to the Governor or investigated.
The Nation reports that the kingmakers and the governor have been embroiled in a heated dispute over the selection of a new Alaafin.
Five out of seven Oyomesi members had recommended Gbadegesin for the stool.
However, a new twist was added when on January 10, Makinde approved Owoade as the Alaafin and presented him with the staff of office.
During the event, the governor declared that he would not allow the Alaafin stool to be politicised, adding that individuals who allegedly paid to destabilise the traditional institution in the state would face prosecution
The letter read in parts, “By announcing a different candidate, the governor has usurped the powers of the Oyomesi, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which makes the Oyomesi the sole authority for the selection of the Alaafin.
“The governor’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicts the judgment of the Oyo State High Court of 19th December 2022, which declared Ifa consultation in the selection process unlawful, as It Is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, and the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after the selection, lack credibility and were not formally communicated to the Governor or investigated.”
He said he is seeking “an order setting aside the purported appointment, approval of appointment and presentation of staff of office to Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo as it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null and void” and a declaration that he “was validly selected and or appointed by the Kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and therefore his appointment is valid, lawful and proper.”
