Subsequent upon this, the Oyo State Government in July 2023 through the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Segun Olayiwola, directed a fresh process for the selection of the new Alaafin.
As a result, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned the kingmakers following a petition by one of the candidates aspiring to the vacant throne over bribery allegations.
The anti-graft agency invited the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola; the Agbaakin, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda; Samu, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale; Lagunna, High Chief Wakilu Oyedepo; and the Akinniku of Oyo town.
The petitioner had alleged that the kingmakers collected bribes running into millions of naira to favour a particular candidate.
However, only the Agbaakin and Samu honoured the EFCC invitation among those invited, while the others shunned the anti-graft body and have remained adamant against commencing another process aside from the one that produced Prince Gbadegesin.
Led by the Bashorun, High Chief Ayoola, the Oyo kingmakers in the majority filed a suit marked HOY/38/2023 before the Oyo State High Court to restrain Governor Seyi Makinde from rejecting Prince Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect, whom they said they unanimously selected in a September 30, 2023 meeting.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday July 5, 2024 however dismissed an application filed by five Oyo kingmakers to restrain the EFCC from probing them.
In five separate judgments, Justice Ekerete Akpan held that it was impossible to restrain the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duty which was an investigation of suspected financial crime.
Akpan added that mere interpretation of EFCC’s intention especially as it bordered on an N15 million bribery allegation when the anti-graft body invited the applicants for interrogation did not amount to harassment.
He, therefore, dismissed the application on grounds of incompetence.
This suit led to the crisis between kingmakers and Governor Makinde.
In the statement on Thursday, the Ladigbolu Royal Family warned those promoting lies against Makinde, accusing him of employing delay tactics to subvert the will of the kingmakers to desist and join the path of truth and stop anti-people’s move.
The royal family insisted that any other process that relegates Ifa divination in the process to select the Alaafin would not be acceptable, explaining, “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.”
Maintaining that the throne of the Alaafin is crucial to Yorubaland, the family urged, “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.”
The family insisted that 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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