.Elevates 12 chiefs to lesser Oba status
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, assured the indigenes of Oyo Town that he does not have any anointed candidate to fill the vacant stool left by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.He said that a candidate would emerge soon.
Makinde pledged through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, while presenting the Part II recognised chieftaincy certificates to 12 Baales, who are now lesser Obas for their different domains. The event took place at the Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Ode-Aremo, Oyo Town.
The 12 elevated chiefs include Chief Olaniyi Adeoye Adegboye III (Oloodu of Ojongbodu, Oyo), Chief David Ademola Oyediran (Alaguo of Aguo, Oyo), Chief Samuel Olusegun Odurinde (Alajagba of Ajagba, Oyo), Chief Isiaka Tella Titiloye (Ona Isokun of Isokun, Oyo), Chief Salawu Abu Oyeniran (Onigudugbu of Gudugbu, Oyo) and Chief Jimoh Ajiboye Oyeleye (Alakeetan of Akeetan, Oyo).
Others are Chief Ganiyu Ajiboye Busari (Alago- Oja, Oyo), Chief Abel Olufemi Oyekan (Elepe of Iseke), Chief Oyeleke Yusuf Isola (Onidode of Idode), Chief Tijani Ajekigbe Okunshinde (Alapaara of Apaara 1), Chief Adebisi Basiru Adebayo (Olotefon of Otefon, Oyo) and Chief Fakayode Moses Alowonle (Onimeleke of Imeleke 1, Oyo).
They are now qualified to attend the meetings of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuff Akinade, who is the Head of the Oyomesi (Kingmakers), was absent at the event.
He and some others had taken the governor and the government to court over the selection process for the candidate to succeed Oba Adeyemi (who joined his ancestors on April 22, 2022, at 83 years of age).
The commissioner, who delivered the governor’s address, said he had had a series of meetings with his boss “and I am assuring people of Oyo Town that Governor Seyi Makinde has no anointed candidate. The governor never thought it. To him, Oyo, which is the cradle of Yorubaland with the Alaafin as the head of Obas throughout Yorubaland should have an Oba who befits their historical status.
And by so doing, he has no candidate. The process for installation of a new Alaafin would have been concluded but for the case instituted at the Appeal Court. I am therefore assuring you that sooner than later, the whole issue will be resolved.”
The governor, therefore, charged the newly elevated chiefs to ensure that their domains are well secured and that any form of suspicious activity is reported promptly to the government.
