Àtìbà 9 and three members of the Oyomesi have faulted the claim by the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola Olayinka, that a new candidate has been picked as a successor to the Alaafin Stool.
The Basorun of Oyo, who is the head of the Oyomesi (kingmakers), was reported to have said that a new Alaafin has been chosen for the vacant stool.
He also reportedly stated that the Oyomesi is just waiting for the final approval from the Oyo State governor, to install the new candidate as the Alaafin.
However, the Àtìbà 9 and the dissenting three members of the Oyomesi, in two separate statements, described the claim as untrue and unfounded.
The Àtìbà 9, constituting the nine members of the Àtìbà Royal Families, described as untrue, baseless and unfounded the claim that a new Alaafin has been chosen for ancient Oyo since 2022.
The reaction of the Àtìbà 9 was contained in a press release e-signed by their spokesperson, Prince Sina Afolabi.
“We, the members of Àtìbà 9 Royal Families, want to make it clear that your claim is completely untrue, baseless, and unfounded.
“We acknowledge that there were some improper arrangements made in the past, which have since been recognised and declined by the government.
“These arrangements did not represent a due process that reflects the genuine selection of a new Alaafin. We fully support the government’s decision on this matter.
“We firmly believe that any process that excludes the nine royal families cannot be considered valid.
“It is essential that justice, fairness, and equity are upheld in the selection processes,” it was stated in the release.
The Àtìbà 9 also urged Governor Makinde to implement the 1976 Adekunle Ladeinde Report as a means to ensuring justice, fairness and equity in the selection and appointment of a new Alaafin.
“By allowing the Àtìbà nine ruling houses, including Olawoyin, to participate in the selection processes, it is the duty of the government to promote peace and harmony within the community.
“We sincerely hope that our plea for justice and fairness will be heard and acted upon,” Prince Afolabi further stated in the release.
Similarly, the three members of the Oyomesi also responded to the claim by the Basorun of Oyo as regards the appointment of a new Alaafin.
The dissenting Oyomesi members of declared that there was nowhere a meeting was held where a candidate was chosen as the successor to the Alaafin stool.
They claimed that the Basorun of Oyo has refused to convene any meeting with respect to the selection and appointment of a candidate for the stool.
They further stated that he has been taking unilateral decisions which are not in conformity with the directive by the state government that the selection of the candidate must follow due process.
The statement, dated 18 September, 2023, was jointly signed by High Chief Asimiyu Atanda (Agbakin of Oyo); High Chief Lamido Oyewale (Samu of Oyo) and Chief Odurinde Olusegun (Alajagba of Oyo).
The trio stated: “There are five living members of the Oyomesi, and there are two warrant chiefs eligible to nominate/recommend a nominee to the Governor of Oyo State for appointment as the Alaafin.
“The kingmakers met only once in 2022 with the following kingmakers in attendance, Basorun, Agbakin, Samu, Akinniku, Lagunna (Oyomesi) joined by Areago Basorun and Alapo (both warrant chiefs unilaterally selected by Basorun without the knowledge or consent of the Oyomesi).
“As a matter of fact, one of the contestants also wrote a letter of protest questioning the inclusion of one of the warrant chiefs in the Kingmakers Council
“It was at the meeting of this ill-constituted 7-member kingmakers first meeting that a nominee for the office of the Alaafin was sent to the government for endorsement
“Immediately after submitting our nomination, we got the government’s response that our nomination could not be accepted because we did not follow due process in coming to our resolution.
“The government directed that we should go back and do our work properly in accordance with the Declaration.
“It was also discovered that one of the warrant chiefs (handpicked by Basorun) who participated in our earlier resolution was ineligible to be a warrant chief.
“He was therefore removed and replaced with another chief. Thus the Alapo, handpicked by Basorun who participated in our earlier resolution, was replaced with Alajagba.
“We were directed to meet and follow due process. Unfortunately, the Basorun who is chairman and convener of our meetings decided not to convene any meeting of the Oyomesi since late last year till the present moment.
“The new member of the Kingmakers Council (Alajagba) has been denied the opportunity of participating in or contributing to the resolutions of the the kingmakers since his official appointment in 2022.
“[This is] on account of the blunt refusal of the Basorun to comply with the directive of government for due process in our task of recommending a nominee to the government.
“About seven months ago, during an official visit to Oyo, the governor held a meeting with the Oyomesi and specifically told us of the government decision that due process must be followed in the nomination of candidate for the Alaafin Stool.
“He instructed us to do our duty freely because the government is only interested in the best for Oyo and Yorubaland.
“Regrettably, Basorun remained adamant and no meeting of the kingmakers was convened to deliberate on the major issue of nomination or selection of candidate for the Stool of the Alaafin.
“Recently, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs invited the kingmakers to a meeting in his office.
“Some of us honoured the invitation but Basorun and others refused to honour the invitation from the commissioner.
“We are opposed to the Basorun after disregard for government directive on due process and his continuing imposition of one of his handpicked chiefs (Areago Basorun) as a warrant chief whose letter of appointment is questionable.
“We are ready to meet with other kingmakers to perform our legitimate duties in accordance with our tradition and custom and the law of the land.”
