•Alaafin stool
Five prominent kingmakers from Oyo have raised serious concerns over Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent initiative to initiate a new selection process regarding the vacant Alaafin stool.
They have labelled the move as illegal and a blatant disregard for judicial proceedings, reports Vanguard.
The kingmakers, High Chief Yusuf Akínade, (Bashorun of Oyo); High Chief Wakeel Akindele, (Lagunna of Oyo); High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, (Akinniku of Oyo); Chief Wahab Oyetunji, (warrant chief stand-in for Asipa of Oyo) and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, (warrant chief stand-in for Alapinní of Oyo), expressed their discontent in a formal letter delivered to the governor, which was signed by their legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN.
The letter highlighted a troubling sequence of events, revealing that the governor, through the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, has appointed new warrant kingmakers, namely Chief Odurinde Olusegun Alajagba and Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye, to join others in what the kingmakers viewed as an unlawful attempt to override the existing selection process.
The action came despite a legal case currently pending in court concerning the matter.
The kingmakers contended that the governor’s actions not only undermined the authority of the majority who selected Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect but also violate his constitutional duty to respect judicial processes.
They drew parallels to a previous incident where the governor dissolved elected local government chairmen despite ongoing litigation, a situation later condemned by the Supreme Court as an example of executive overreach.
In their letter made available to newsmen today, the kingmakers asserted, “Initiating a fresh process to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo while there is a pending court case is not only subjudice but also demonstrates a troubling disregard for our legal system.”
They urged Governor Makinde to reconsider his stance and halt any plans to initiate a new selection process while the legal proceedings are ongoing, emphasising the importance of adhering to the rule of law and upholding the integrity of the judiciary.
