Breaking: Nine Princes Reject Appointment Of Abimbola Owoade As Alaafin Of Oyo

Princes from nine royal families in Oyo, collectively known as the Atiba 9, have rejected the appointment of Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo, describing it as a breach of tradition and the rule of law.

Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde presented the staff of office to Owoade, the Alaafin-designate, on Monday.

The Atiba 9, however, accused the governor of ignoring the established customs and laws governing the selection process for the revered throne.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Prince Sina Afolabi, speaking on behalf of the nine royal families, criticised Makinde for relying on a proclamation by Prof Wande Abimbola, a US-based Awise Agbaye who allegedly claimed that Ifa chose Owoade as the Alaafin.

“The appointment of Abimbola Owoade is not only contrary to the deeply-rooted customs, culture, and traditions of Oyo but also a violation of the rule of law,” Afolabi said.

The nine princes—Prince Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa); Prince Lamola Olanite (Olanite); Prince Agboin Adelabu (Adelabu); Prince Raji Adeniran (Adeniran); Prince Nureni Taiwo (Tella Agbojulogun); Prince Muftau Adejare Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode); Prince Adesiyan (Adesiyan); and Prince Bello Rasheed (Abidekun)—asserted their legitimate claims to the throne.

They insisted that the selection process that led to Owoade’s appointment undermined the integrity and sanctity of Alaafin’s stool.

“Our objection is not personal against Owoade or Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, another contestant earlier chosen by the Oyomesi. However, the process through which Owoade emerged did not align with the longstanding traditions of the ancient Oyo town,” Afolabi added.

The Atiba 9 disclosed that they are pursuing a legal challenge regarding the process that led to the emergence of both Owoade and Gbadegesin as contenders for the throne. They vowed to ensure that the sanctity of the royal institution is preserved through due process.

“Governor Makinde, despite his advocacy for due process, made an error by endorsing a process that is fundamentally flawed,” Afolabi said.

Afolabi said, “What the governor did was totally against the highly revered Alaafin stool. His action has reduced the throne to an object of ridicule. It was expected of Governor Makinde, an apostle of due process, to have followed a just line of action and avoid reducing the Alaafin stool or the Alaafin to an Oba Gbandu or Oba Yebuyebu (an ordinary oba without honour).

“When the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, was to be made the oba, he entered Ipebi and everything was done in accordance with the custom and tradition of Ife before he was proclaimed as the Oonirisa.

“We don’t want our revered stool or the Alaafin to become an object of ridicule and mockery in the future. We don’t want him to be referred to as an oba that was anointed in Ibadan, precisely at the Office of the Governor. We don’t want people to refer to him as an Alaafin that did not enter Ipebi.

“The Alaafin of Oyo is a prominent and first-class traditional ruler in the entire Yoruba land. We, the Atiba 9, are against the process embarked upon by the state government to make Omooba Owoade the Alaafin. It should be stopped and the right thing must be done in appointing a new Alaafin.

“We don’t have anything personal against Omooba Owoade who was appointed as the Alaafin on Monday. He too made efforts to become the oba. We don’t have any personal issues with Omooba Lukman Gbadegesin either. However, our group is against the process through which Owoade and Gbadegesin emerged as candidates for the Alaafin stool.

“And what Governor Makinde had done by making Omooba Owoade the Alaafin is an attempt to ridicule the throne. We, the Atiba 9, don’t want it! We respect Professor Wande Abimbola who consulted Ifa, but if he wants to be fair to all, he should come and consult Ifa at Ojude Ogun here in Oyo.”

The Atiba 9 also urged the Oyomesi, led by Basorun Yusuf Akinade, to resolve any internal disagreements amicably.

They emphasised that the Oyomesi remained the only body with the authority to initiate the process of selecting a new Alaafin.

“Whatever is the grouse or disagreement between the Basorun and other members of the Oyo Mesi should be resolved. They should call themselves together and settle their crisis amicably before any process of installing a new Alaafin can be embarked upon,” the statement added.

Afolabi declared that with the current arrangement, any occupant of the Alaafin stool would lose respect from other Yoruba obas.

He added, “If we should look at it critically as things stand now, some obas who are supposed to be taking instructions from the Alaafin will not be doing that; they will not respect him as they will see him as not being properly appointed. The Alaafin should not be reduced to an ordinary oba.

“These are our grouses. We are not against whoever is appointed as the Alaafin, but the process must be in accordance with our established custom, culture, tradition and the rule of law. Whoever that emerged through such a process will be acceptable to us.”

This is, however, the second group of kingsmen to kick against Owoade’s appointment.