The Oyo Kingmakers, and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), have rejected the choice of the Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo
On Friday, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, announce the Nigerian-Canadian businessman the replacement for the demised Alaafin.
Five Kingmakers from Oyomesi declared the appointment invalid, noting that they did not recommend Owoade to the state government.
The disagreement of the kingmakers was contained in a letter to the governor, signed by their lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju.
The kingmakers insisted that their chosen candidate for the Alaafin stool was Luqman Gbadegesin.
The names of the Kingmakers, who made this declaration include High Chief Yusuf Akínade, Bashorun of Oyo; High Chief Wakeel Akindele, Lagunna of Oyo; High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, Akinniku of Oyo; Chíef Wahab Oyetunji, a Warrant Chief, who stood-in for Asipa of Oyo, and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, Warrant Chief eho stood-in for Alapinní of Oyo.
“Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin having obtained the majority of votes of the Kingmakers present and voting was deemed appointed and his name was forwarded to your Excellency as the candidate appointed by the Kingmakers as Alaafin of Oyo for your approval which you refused to approve for no disclosed reason at all.
“The Kingmakers thereafter filed an action to stop your excellency from truncating the process, culminating in the present appeal at the court of appeal.
“Any meeting of few kingmakers and emergency warrant chiefs held at the Governor’s office on the 9th of January,2025 or elsewhere at the instance of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to select the preferred candidate of the Governor as the new Alaafin is not only contrary to the native law and custom and Chieftaincy Declaration of Alafin of Oyo Chieftaincy but unlawful, illegal, invalid, null and void,” the letter read.
In it’s disaffection, MURIC, in a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of the organisation, Abdulwaheed Lawal, and Ibrahim Agunbiade, respectively, stressed that the governor acted solely against the law.
“This appointment is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional….. It is surprising that Governor Seyi Makinde could ignore the recent letter written by the Oyo Kingmakers, expressing their displeasure with the Governor’s attempt to restart the selection process despite a pending court case. The new selection is therefore subjudice.” MURIC affirmed
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