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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The protest embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, stalled the hearing of the nine Atiba royal families suit against Oyo State Government and Oyomesi (kingmakers) over the vacant Alaafin stool.
Recall that Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court sitting in Awe, had on November 28, 2023 adjourned the hearing of the case till February 27, 2024.
However, the court failed to sit on Tuesday as people were seen hanging around the court’s main gate due to the two-day nationwide mass protest called by NLC to protest against economic hardship in the country.
The Atiba nine are asking the court to direct the Oyo State Government to implement the 1976 state government’s gazette, which directed the Alaafin traditional council to review the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration in order to accommodate the other ruling houses.
They requested that the governor considers their plea to present a sole candidate from the nine ruling houses as a compensation for their historical exclusion from the Alaafin stool, which has been enjoyed by their fellow brothers- Agunloye and Alowolodu ruling houses that have been producing Alaafin since 1859.