Nigeria Newspapers Online

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has presented the staff of office and certificate to the 46th Alaafin, Oba Akeem Owoade.

The brief ceremony held at the Oyo State Exco Chambers Governor’s office Agodi, Ibadan, on Monday.

Oba Owoade was in the company of his subjects from Oyo town.

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In his brief remark during the ceremony, Governor Makinde hinted that the chiefs who collected money during the process would be prosecuted.

This was coming amidst rejection of Owoade’s appointment by some kingmakers who described the governor’s decision as illegal and unlawful.

Five kingmakers from the town had declared the appointment null and void in a letter addressed to the governor, saying they did not recommend such a name to the state government.

They insisted that the only person they recommended as the next Alaafin is Prince Lukman Gbadegesin.

“You will recall that on 30th September, 2022 at the meeting of the Kingmakers in accordance with the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration, 1961, the Kingmakers appointed Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin of Oyo by majority of the lawful votes of the Kingmakers.

“Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin having obtained the majority of votes of the Kingmakers present and voting was deemed appointed and his name was forwarded to your Excellency as the candidate appointed by the Kingmakers as Alaafin of Oyo for your approval which you refused to approved for no disclosed reason at all. The Kingmakers thereafter filed an action to stop your excellency from truncating the process, culminating in the present appeal at the court of appeal,” the letter read in part.