Kingmakers Challenge Gov. Makinde Over Choice Of Owoade As Alaafin Of Oyo

By Ayodele Oni

Five Oyo State Kingmakers, traditionally known as Oyomesi, have disagreed with Governor Seyi Makinde, over the choice and endorsement of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo

Their protest and disagreement just before the appointment of  Owoade to the revered stool came in form of a letter addressed to the Governor by the Kingmakers.

The letter to the Governor follows what the Kingmakers saw as a  suorise new selection process of a new Alaafin after they had concluded the process and agreed on Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect.

The letter signed on behalf of the Kingmakers – Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade, the Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele, the Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, a Warrant Chief who stood in for Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji, and a Warrant Chief who stood in for Alapinni of Oyo, Chief  Gbadebo Mufutau – Adekunle Sobaloju, SAN, said the Governor’s action in starting a new process, is a direct disregard of a pending Court case regarding the selection process.

The letter which was made public on Thursday, January  9, 2025,  before the State Government’s announcement of Prince Abimbola Owoade as Alaafin-elect on Friday, January 10, 2024, reads:

“We have just been reliably informed by our clients that you have just through the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairmen of Atiba and Oyo East Local Government appointed (i) Chief Odurinde Olusegun (Alajagba of Ajagba) (ii) Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye (Alago-Oja of Ago Oja) as warrant kingmakers to join High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) to kickstart the process of selecting another candidate to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.

“The two local government chairmen and the said warrant chiefs and High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbaakin of Oyo) and High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) who are not in support of the decision of the majority of the kingmakers that selected Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alafin-elect were summoned today, 9th January 2025 to the office of the Oyo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs where they were ordered to commence a fresh process to fill the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.”

The SAN described the Makinde’s action as illegal and disrespectful to the judiciary, and pointed out that the case was still in   court.

Disregarding the  authorities of the Court, he noted, undermines governance and violates the constitution.

He equated the Governor’s action to a previous incident where Makinde disregarded court proceedings and dissolved democratically elected local government chairmen.

“Proceeding to commence a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo would be subjudice and tantamount to lawlessness and disregard of the superior courts of record, an act which Your Excellency ought to distance yourself from.

“We, therefore, once more request and urge Your Excellency to suspend any plan to kick start fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo during the pendency of a motion for injunction, pending appeal in obedience to law and integrity of our

Since the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, 82,  on April 22, 2022,  81 after a 52-year reign, crisis has been the lot of every move to fill the vacant stool.

Prince Abimbola Owoade, the Governor’s choice is in his 40’s, and based in Canada.