Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has defended the selection of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo, insisting that the process followed all the necessary legal and traditional steps.
Owoade’s selection and approval by the Oyo State Government have stirred controversy, especially among the Oyo kingmakers since the announcement on Friday.
The Oyo kingmakers, in a letter signed by their legal representative, Kunle Sobaloju, SAN, rejected the Owoade’s appointment.
They claimed that the recommended name for the new Alaafin was Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, not Owoade.
The kingmakers also argued that the Bashorun of Oyo, as head of the Oyomesi, was responsible for convening the meeting to select the new Alaafin, not the governor.
However, Makinde said he followed normal procedure to appoint Owoade as the new Alaafin.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said, the Oyomesi didn’t follow due process when they forwarded Gbadegesin’s name.
“There is a process for selection and approval. When the Oyomesi forwarded the name, the governor noted that the due process wasn’t followed, but this time, the process was adhered to.
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“It wasn’t the governor who elected Prince Owoade; it was the Oyomesi that followed the proper steps, and the governor simply accepted and approved the recommendation.”
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi, has congratulated Owoade, describing his emergence as a historic moment for the people of Oyo.
In a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare on Saturday, Ooni celebrated the new Alaafin’s ascension, stating, “This monumental decision heralds a new era of prosperity, unity, and cultural preservation for the great people of Oyo.”
The Ooni, who also serves as Co-Chair of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, praised the patience and resilience of the royal family, the kingmakers, and the people of Oyo during the over two years selection process.
“We are confident that the Alaafin-elect will build upon the enduring legacy of his predecessors, particularly the immediate past Alaafin, the late Oba Lamidi Atanda Adeyemi III, whose leadership was exemplary and unmatched,” the Ooni stated.
He further advised the new Alaafin to embrace unity, calling him the “father of all” and urging him to ensure that every stakeholder in the Oyo kingdom, whether supportive or not, was brought together for the collective growth of the region.
“You cannot do it alone; you must bring everyone on board. Oyomesi must remain united under your watch. Be magnanimous in victory”, he advised.
