Oyo State’s Governor Seyi Makinde has threatened that all kingmakers who received bribes for the selection of the Alaafin of Oyo designate would face legal prosecution.
But the Oyo kingmakers have fired back, challenging the Governor to present any evidence of bribe-taking against them in court and refrain from his campaign of calumny against their personalities.
Disregarding the majority Oyomesi’s nomination of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, Makinde appointed Abimbola Owoade as new Alaafin of Oyo and on Monday presented the staff of the office to the new Alaafin designate.
The presentation of the staff and certificate of recognition took place at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan, the capital city.
In July 2024, the other two members of the Oyomesi told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Gbadegesin offered each of the five kingmakers N15 million during the Alaafin selection process.
While presenting the instruments of office to the monarch, Makinde reiterated that the Alaafin stool would not be for sale under his watch.
He added that those who sought to destabilise the traditional institution in the state will be prosecuted.
“The government is not letting down. We will prosecute them. The money they collected, they will still be prosecuted,” the Governor said. “Except they go to Kabiyesi and apologise; if he forgives them, then I will also forgive them.”
The kingmakers described as unacceptable Makinde’s speech at the presentation of staff of office to the new Alaafin.
They expressed their displeasure in a letter to the Governor signed by their legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, include High Chief Yusuf Akínade, Bashorun of Oyo; High Chief Wakeel Akindele, Lagunna of Oyo; High Chief Hamzat Yusuf, Akinniku of Oyo; Chíef Wahab Oyetunji, warrant chief stand-in for Asipa of Oyo, and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, warrant chief stand-in for Alapinní of Oyo.
“We recognize Your Excellency’s right to defend your actions in court, given the ongoing legal challenge to your recent decision. However, we respectfully remind Your Excellency that the court is the appropriate forum for presenting evidence and arguments. The Oyomesi, in their respect for the high office of the Governor of Oyo State, have refrained from joining issues with you in the public arena. It is, therefore, disheartening that Your Excellency continues to make public statements that cast aspersions on their integrity.
“We urge Your Excellency to refrain from resorting to a trial by media or the court of public opinion in a bid to confer legitimacy on recent unlawful acts of the state, under your command. If there is any evidence to support these allegations, we respectfully advise that it should be brought before the court, where it can be properly examined and addressed. Publicly maligning the Oyomesi, who are custodians of tradition and highly respected in the Oyo Kingdom, undermines not only their reputation but also the sanctity of the ongoing judicial process and defamatory of our clients.”
They added that they have maintained their integrity and remained committed to upholding the traditions and customs of the Oyo Kingdom and as such consider the continued attempt at public trial of their character as unwarranted and unbecoming of the high standards expected of the office of the Governor.
“Please recognize that you remain liable to prosecution for the defamatory acts committed by you in office, for which you may be held accountable after your period of immunity is over,” they added.
However, the Governor further said there was no political consideration in approving Owoade as Alaafin.
He said he had neither spoken to Owoade nor met him or either of the other princes contesting the stool.
This, he said, was to allow him to be objective in his decision.
“Some people said maybe it was political consideration. No. Politics, electioneering is a game,” he said.
It’s only when you have been elected that governance becomes a serious business because you will take decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.
“Let me say this clearly: when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland, and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.
“The Alaafin stool became vacant in 2022. We were moving towards the election, and people said, ‘You have to approve the appointment of Alaafin; otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you’.
“I said, ‘The people should not vote for me, but that I would do what was right,’ and Oyo voted for me massively. And Oyo will still continue to vote for me.”
Makinde said the coronation will take place in four weeks, adding that, “on that day, I’ll talk”.
