Alafin: 9 Ruling Houses Fault Selection Process

Nine ruling houses have alleged marginalisation in the ongoing selection process of new Alaafin of Oyo,   calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to halt the process for the selection, pending the determination of court cases.

Addressing newsmen in Oyo town, on behalf of the other ruling houses, Prince Ademola Adesina, from Adeitan ruling house, said the Oyo State government should allow the process in court to be concluded before continuing with the process of selecting a new Alaafin.

Adesina noted that the remaining nine ruling houses from the Atiba royal family have been side-lined and called on the government to come to their rescue by discontinuing the selection process of the new Alaafin.

He said: “In 1961, upon the dethronement of Oba Adeniran, Alaafin Gbadegesin of Agunloye ruling house made a declaration. He declared that two ruling houses will benefit from the stool out of the 21 children of Alaafin Atiba.

“You will recall that the 1963 constitution housed the jurisdiction of the court to challenge anything  on chieftaincy matter, upon the fact that, the so called declaration was trite to the customary law of Yoruba land, which stated that every member, the children or the descendant of a founder of a town can benefit from the stool of his forbearer.