Nine families who are directed descendants of the Abiodun Atiba Ruling House have called for the discontinuation of the ongoing process to select a new Alaafin of Oyo.
They made the call on the Oyo State government and the Oyo Mesi while addressing a press conference in Oyo Town, on Monday.
The nine royal families alleged that their candidates for the throne were denied the opportunity to participate in the process of appointing a successor to the throne.
They wanted the government to put on hold the selection process, pending the conclusion of ongoing two court cases on the issue of their exclusion from the selection process.
Recalled that the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, of the Alowolodu Royal Family, joined his ancestors on 23 April, 2022 at the age of 83 years.
Following the demise of the immediate past Alaafin, 119 candidates from 10 royal families who all belong to the Atiba Dynasty applied for the vacant stool.
The nine royal families include Princes Makanjuola Adediran (Adediran-Ese Apata); Adebowale Adesiyan (Adesiyan); Adediwura Lamola (Olanite); and Adetunji Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode).
Others are Princes Agboin Olayiwola (Adelabu Baba Ibadan); Ademola Adesina Afolabi (Adeitan); Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa); Adekunle Bello (Iteade Abidekun); and Tella Agbojulogun (Agbojulogun).
The Alaafin Atiba descendants kicked against the ongoing process of selecting a crown prince for the throne, alleging that it has been limited to the Agunloye Royal House and to the exclusion of the other nine royal families.
Prince Afolabi (from Adeitan Royal Family) addressed newsmen on behalf of the other royal families who were all present, except Prince Tella Agbojulogun who was away in Lagos but was said to have given his permission for the press conference to hold.
Prince Afolabi accused the state government of shirking its responsibilities in the process of selecting a new Alaafin.
He said he had earlier warned that the shortlisting of 58 princes from the Agunloye Royal Family princes was a misnomer and should not have been allowed in the first place.
The families contended that they were of the opinion that the government was not following due process in the ongoing selection of the new Alaafin of Oyo.
“Out of 11 royal families, two are benefitting from the stool, while nine others have been sidelined. Because of this, we appeal to the government to discontinue the process of selection of the new Alaafin.”
Prince Afolabi further said: “We also appeal to the state government to allow the ongoing cases in court to be concluded before choosing or continuing with the process of the selection of the new Alaafin.
“For these reasons we seek for the discontinuation of the processes. This press conference is meant to bring to the notice of government that there are matters in court.
“If the government is indeed following the rule of law in the process, we want fairness, equity and justice in the selection of the new Alaafin.
“The constitution empowers people to challenge chieftaincy selection and that is why it is being challenged. Why are our families excluded in the process?,” Prince Afolabi asked.
The Alaafin Atiba descendants cited previous efforts they had made to find out why their families had been excluded from ascending the throne.
They added that there had been proclamations by past administrations in the state to the effect that there should be a single ruling house in Oyo which should be called “Atiba Ruling House [and] which is to include all the descendants of Alaafin Atiba.
“Out of the 11 royal families, only two [Agunloye and Alowolodu] have been the beneficiaries of the stool, while the other nine royal families had been sidelined.
“So, we appeal to the Oyo State government, based on its ability and as it was empowered by the Chieftaincy Law of Oyo State, Section 10 (3), to come to our rescue by discontinuing the process.
“While the 1963 Constitution did not allow individuals or groups to challenge the Chieftaincy Law, the 1979 Constitution empowers individuals or groups to challenge a Chieftaincy Law; so also the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“This empowers us to appeal to the Oyo State government that they should allow the process in the court of law since 2020, the other processes in the courts as at the moment and the one that is to come up in a week’s time.
“The judiciary should complete and conclude the matter before the government can continue the process of choosing or installing new Alaafin,” the nine royal families declared.
The nine families said the Agunloye Royal Family was favoured by a letter written to Baba Iyaji, dated August 9, 2022 that he should liaise with the Agunloye Family to choose a crown prince and present to the government.
“Upon that, we are appealing to the Oyo State government to look into this matter, on the ground that Ubi Judis, Ubi Remendus (“where there is an injury, there is always a remedy”).
“We are now pleading that, vide Ojukwu versus the Military Administrator of Lagos State, 1986 JELR 51747, a Supreme Court decision that the judiciary is empowered to decide independently a matter before it to which the interest of government or the interest of an individual is suffering.
“We seek for the discontinuation of the process of choosing Alaafin that has been going on for the past one week, which excluded all other royal families that were recommended and approved by the Commissions of Enquiry in the state,” Afolabi added.
Also speaking, Prince Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa Royal Family) implored the government to explain why it found it difficult implementing the 1976 Report on the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.
“There are two questions I want to ask the Oyo State government: One, what is preventing the government from implementing the 1976 Report since it emanated from them?;
“Secondly, what is stopping the state government from acting on this report, as gazetted in 2001, immediately after the passage of our late father, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III?”
