Following the delayed process in the selection of the new Alaafin of Oyo, the Ladigbolu Royal Family, of the town has on Thursday, called on the kingmakers to go back to the drawing board in the selection of the new paramount ruler for the ancient town.
This development was revealed in a statement signed by Akinade Ladigbolu on behalf of the royal family and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Recall that there has been a crisis over the selection of a new monarch after the demise of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who joined his ancestral fathers on April 22, 2022. He ruled for 52 years and died at 81.
The kingmakers, also known as the Oyomesi, had in a suit marked HOY/38/2023 before the Oyo State High Court, sought to restrain Governor Seyi Makinde from rejecting Prince Lukuman Gbadegesin, whom they said they unanimously selected in a September 30, 2023 meeting.
This suit led to the crisis between kingmakers and Makinde.
But in July, the State Government, through the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Segun Olayiwola, announced a fresh process in the selection of the new Alaafin.
Ladigbolu, in a statement on Thursday, said, “We are also using this opportunity to warn those promoting lies against Governor Makinde and accusing him of employing delay tactics to subvert the will of the kingmakers to desists and join the path of truth and stop anti-people’s move.”
The royal family insisted that any other process apart from Ifa divination would not be acceptable.
“Because right from the beginning, all the Princes were told that Ifa consultation would be employed to select the new king and we all agreed.
“The position of Alaafin of Oyo is an important seat in Yorubaland. So, Yoruba all over the world should rise and join in the battle against imposition, against Yoruba tradition which is a taboo.
“It is important we do it right now because any wrong step taken in the selection process will have a negative effect in the future and posterity will not forgive anybody that cut corners against the will of the people and God for Oyo town.”
Ladigbolu insisted that, as of today, none of the aspirants jostling for the position of Alaafin has been submitted by the Oyomesi as the crowned Prince to the government.
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