How Alaafin-Elect Emerged About One Year Ago – Oyomesi

• Sodiq Lawal

The Oyo Mesi (kingmakers) has disclosed that new Alaafin-elect has emerged about one year ago.

It was learnt that the Oyo Mesi (kingmakers) were merely waiting for Governor Seyi Makinde’s official announcement.

The Oyomesi, through the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade, who spoke on behalf of the kingmakers, disclosed this during an interview with Sunday Vanguard.

The High Chief said the name of the nominated prince had been forwarded to the governor who had yet to announce the kingmakers’ choice.

According to him, the selection process had been concluded and the only thing remaining was a formal announcement by the state government.

READ: Alaafin: Selection Didn’t Follow Due Process – Oyo Mesi Faction

It would be recalled that the immediate past Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who ruled for almost 52 years, passed away on April 22, 2022, at 83.

The Basorun said: “We concluded the selection process for the new Alaafin on October 4, 2022, and we informed the state government of our decision immediately. As the law of the land demands, we didn’t get any petitions against our decision, but a suit was filed against us.

“We won the case, with the court throwing away the case and stating that the initial decision that Oyomesi made was right, and, since then, we have expected the governor to make an announcement, but he didn’t. We will continue to wait for him to do that.”

When asked about the suggestion that the governor intended to frustrate the Oyomesi into conducting another selection process, he said: “We will never do that. God will not allow us to see such a setback.

“The complete Oyomesi has conducted a process that has been completed, and we all signed it. We will wait till the governor is satisfied to announce the candidate we have selected.”

On his part, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, hinted that the government had been informed of the decision of the Oyomesi, saying, however, that Makinde was taking his time.