Nine royal princes condemn Makinde’s Alaafin appointment process

• Nine princes from Oyo’s Atiba royal families have rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s appointment of Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo
• The princes claim that the selection process violated Oyo customs and traditions, calling for due process to be followed to uphold the integrity of the throne
• They insist that Oyomesi must resolve internal disputes and reassert their authority as they elect a new Alaafin to preserve the sanctity of the throne

oops, Nigeria – The appointment of Oba Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo has drawn opposition from nine royal families collectively known as the Atiba 9, who have rejected the decision citing violation of Oyo’s revered traditions.

Governor Seyi Makinde presented the civil servants to the Alaafin appointee on Monday, an act Atiba 9 described as unacceptable and influenced by a proclamation by the US-based Ifa cleric, Prof. Wande Abimbola, who claimed that Ifa chose Owoade as the new Alaafin.

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Prince Sina Afolabi of the Adeitan royal family, who spoke on behalf of the nine families, emphasized their legitimate claim to the throne.

He accused the governor of circumventing established customs and traditions and called on the Oyomesi, the kingmakers of Oyo, to resolve internal disputes before embarking on the selection process.

“What the governor did was totally against the highly revered Alaafin throne. His action has reduced the throne to an object of ridicule,” Afolabi said.

Atiba 9 accuses Makinde of belittling Oyo tradition

The coalition further criticized the process as a departure from the sanctity of traditional rites, comparing it unfavorably to the election of Ooni of IfeOba Enitan Ogunwusi, whose enthroned strictly adhered to Ife customs.

Atiba 9 argued that the process undermines the Alaafin’s authority among Yoruba traditional rulers.

“Anyone in the Alaafin dais during this arrangement will lose the respect of other Yoruba obas,” Afolabi said.

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Among the nine princes opposing the appointment are Prince Remi Azeez, Prince Lamola Olanite, Prince Agboin Adelabu, Prince Raji Adeniran, Prince Nureni Taiwo, Prince Muftau Adejare Adesokan, Prince Adesiyan and Prince Bello Rasheed. They insist that their objection is not personal but grounded in the need to uphold Oyo traditions and the rule of law.

The group also blamed the state government for disregarding Oyomesi’s role in the election of a new Alaafin. They urged Basorun Yusuf Akinade and other Oyomesi members to resolve their differences and re-establish their authority in the process.

This marks the second group to challenge Owoade’s appointment, following five Oyo kingmakers who earlier declared the process invalid, claiming they had not endorsed him.

Atiba 9 reiterated his commitment to ensure that due process is followed to preserve the dignity and sanctity of the Alaafin’s stool, stressing: “Whoever emerges through proper traditions will be acceptable to us.”

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Kingmakers protest as Makinde christens Owoade as new Alaafin

previous, Legit.ng had reported that five kingmakers had rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s election of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

Insisting on Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the chosen Alaafin, the royalists declared Owoade’s appointment invalid, noting that they did not recommend him to government.

Source: Legit.ng