Protest in Oyo as Makinde appoints Owoade as new Alaafin

• Oyo kingmakers protest the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde, citing legal and procedural concerns.
• The Oyo State government announced Owoade’s appointment, claiming it followed consultations and traditional divinations by the Oyomesi (Oyo kingmakers), with the approval of Governor Makinde.
• Five prominent kingmakers, including the Basorun, Lagunna, and Akinniku of Oyo, reject the appointment, asserting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin is the rightful Alaafin-elect.
• The protesting kingmakers have filed a legal challenge against the governor’s actions, claiming the selection process has been unlawful and that the matter is still pending in the Court of Appeal.

Kingmakers in Oyo town, Oyo State, have expressed strong opposition to the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The announcement was made on Friday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.

Oyelade stated that after extensive consultations and traditional divinations by the Oyomesi (Oyo kingmakers), Owoade was recommended as the new Alaafin and subsequently approved by Governor Makinde.

“Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by Governor Seyi Makinde as the new Alaafin of Oyo,” he said in the official statement.

However, five prominent kingmakers from Oyo town have rejected the appointment.

The protesting kingmakers, including the 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 representing the Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and a warrant chief representing the Alapinni of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, argue that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin is the rightful Alaafin-elect.

In a letter signed by their legal counsel, Kunle Sobaloju, SAN, the kingmakers described the governor’s actions as unlawful and urged the suspension of the appointment process until the legal dispute is resolved in court.

The letter, titled “Re: Illegal & Unlawful Appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the New Alaafin of Oyo,” was made available to Saturday PUNCH.

The letter highlighted the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the selection process.

“On their resolute instruction, we write this letter concerning the purported unlawful and illegal appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo,” the letter began.

It went on to recall that, on September 30, 2022, a meeting of the Kingmakers had appointed Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin of Oyo by a majority vote. His name was forwarded to Governor Makinde for approval, but approval was withheld without explanation.

Following this, the kingmakers filed a legal action to prevent the governor from disrupting the process, which is now pending in the Court of Appeal.

The letter further criticized the governor’s recent announcement, stating that the Alaafin should not be chosen through consultations or divinations, as claimed by Oyelade.

The legal process, they argued, mandates a selection meeting called by the Bashorun of Oyo, the head of the Oyomesi, but no such meeting was convened.

The kingmakers called the governor’s decision “executive recklessness” and warned that it could not withstand legal scrutiny.

In contrast to the protests, the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has congratulated Prince Owoade on his appointment.

In a statement issued by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, Oba Akanbi referred to Owoade’s ascension as a divine act, asserting that it was in line with God’s will.