Alaafin Throne: Bloc of Kingmakers reject appointment of Prince Owoade, allege irregularities

Five of the (Oyomesi) Alaafin of Oyo kingmakers declared the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin unlawful, faulting the process endorsed by Governor Seyi Makinde.  

In a statement released on Friday, five of the kingmakers insisted that Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin remains the rightful candidate for the throne, having been selected through the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration.

These five Kingmakers include: High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, Bashorun of Oyo; High Chief Wakeel Akindele, Lagunna of Oyo; High Chief Hamza Yusuf, Akinniku 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 recounted that on September 30, 2022, they conducted a meeting in accordance with the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. During the meeting, a majority vote favored Prince Gbadegesin as the next Alaafin. His name was subsequently forwarded to the governor for approval, but no action was taken.  

Legal proceedings were initiated by the kingmakers to protect the selection process, with the matter now pending before the Court of Appeal.  

The group expressed dismay at the state government’s claims that Prince Owoade’s appointment was the outcome of consultations and divination. They argued that this approach contradicts the provisions of the Registered Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1967, which prescribes clear traditional guidelines for the appointment of the Alaafin.  

The kingmakers also criticized an alleged meeting convened by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to select a candidate reportedly favored by the governor. They dismissed the meeting as invalid and inconsistent with the customs governing the Alaafin stool.  

“It is not within the governor’s authority to organize a meeting for the selection or appointment of the Alaafin,” they stated, emphasizing that such actions must align with native laws and customs.  

The group reaffirmed their commitment to the 1967 Chieftaincy Declaration, accusing the state government of compromising the integrity of the Alaafin institution.  

“This rushed appointment disregards established procedures and undermines the sanctity of the Alaafin stool,” the statement concluded.