As pressure continues to mount on the selection process of the next Alaafin of Oyo, the Oyo palace has released a statement reacting to the claim by Atiba ruling house that it is their turn to ascend the stool of their fathers, and that the selection process should be cancelled.
Oyomesi, the group of the kingmakers in Oyo town has said the ongoing process to select a new Alaafin will not be suspended as demanded by the Atiba ruling families.
This is according to the statement released by Bode Durojaiye, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, stating that the call for cancellation is ‘laughable’.
The statement partly reads: “The press conference addressed by one Prince Afolabi Adeshina ( from Adeitan family) on behalf of other ten families was not only laughable but neither here nor there”.
Recall Oyoaffairs.net had reported on Monday how the descendants of Atiba ruling house had addressed journalists lamenting their alleged exclusion from the throne, and therefore called for the suspension of the process pending the determination of the causes filed before the courts.
Reacting to the press conference, the Basorun of Oyo and Head of the Oyomesi, High Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka 1, said the issue raised by Prince Adeshina was between the Alaafin Atiba and the Oyo State government , which has nothing to do with the Oyomesi, let alone stop them from going ahead with their on going interview for the shortlisted aspirants.
“The Head of Royal Families, Baba Iyaji, in conjunction with the Mogaji Agunloye Royal Family, Pa Prince Adeladan, had confirmed the ruling house for the next Alaafin stool to be the Agunloye family.
“Interested aspirants who are authentic members of the family had collected expression of interest forms and their names submitted to the Head of Oyomesi, High Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka 1 for the next step, which is the interview and in line with the due process.
“So, why is Prince Adeshina crying wolves where there should be none, and keep misleading the unsuspecting members of the public. What is the justification for Prince Adeshina to seek for the cancellation of the ongoing interview, when in actual fact, the Alaafin Atiba family is not entitled to occupy the seat of the next paramount ruler ?”
The Basorun has therefore emphasised that members of the Oyomesi will not stop the ongoing interview but see to its logical conclusion .
He urged aspirants to the stool who have not done their interviews to stick to their scheduled date and appear without hesitation.
Similarly, the Basorun of Oyo has enjoined members of the public to shun the misleading press conference and refrain from untoward acts that can ignite trouble in the town.
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