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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
As the race for who will become the next Alaafin of Oyo heats up, the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyomesi) has described the call for the cancellation of the ongoing process of selecting the next monarch for the town by nine ruling houses as laughable.
Oyomesi, who spoke through the Director, Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Mr Bode Durojaiye, on Tuesday, said it will not stop the ongoing interview but see to its logical conclusion.
“It has come to the notice of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi) a purported press conference organised by the so-called nine families of Alaafin Atiba, in which they called for the cancellation of the ongoing interview for shortlisted aspirants to the Alaafin stool.
“The press conference addressed by one Prince Afolabi Adeshina (from Adeitan family) on behalf of other eight families was not only laughable but neither here nor there,” he said.
Speaking, the Basorun of Oyo and Head of Oyomesi, High Chief Yussuf Ayoola, said the issue raised by Prince Adeshina was between the Alaafin Atiba and the Oyo State Government, which has nothing to do with the Oyomesi, let alone stop them from going ahead with the ongoing interview for the shortlisted aspirants.
“The Head of Royal Families, Baba Iyaji, in conjunction with the Mogaji Agunloye Royal Family, Pa Prince Adeladan, had confirmed the ruling house for the next Alaafin stool to be the Agunloye family.
“Interested aspirants who are authentic members of the family had collected expression of interest forms and their names submitted to the Head of Oyomesi, High Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka 1, for the next step, which is the interview and in line with the due process.
“So, why is Prince Adeshina crying wolves where there should be none, and keep misleading the unsuspecting members of the public.
“What is the justification for Prince Adeshina to seek for the cancellation of the ongoing interview, when in actual fact, the Alaafin Atiba family is not entitled to occupy the seat of the next paramount ruler.
“The Oyomesi will not stop the ongoing interview but see to its logical conclusion,” Ayoola said.
He urged aspirants to the stool who have not done their interviews to stick to their scheduled date and appear without hesitation.
The Basorun of Oyo also enjoined members of the public to shun the misleading press conference and refrain from untoward acts that can ignite trouble in the town.
Process of selecting Alaafin at infant stage-Oyo govt
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has said its only interest in who occupies the stool of Alaafin is someone who emerges through the Alaafin chieftaincy declaration laws of the state.
Briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Olatunbosun,said the process of selecting the next Alaafin is still at the infant stage and is still being handled at the local government level.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said it is when the task is completed at the local government level that a report would be sent to the state government.
“As far as we are concerned, the move is a process, it has started and has not gotten to the state. It is still within the local government. Only the Chairman, Atiba lLocal Government can answer all the questions as of now,” Olatubosun said.
Corroborating the commissioner, the CPS, Adisa said the selection of Alaafin is guided by the chieftaincy declaration laws of the state, adding that the ongoing process conforms with the laws and the report would be forwarded to the state government.
“The Alaafin stool and selection of the Alaafin is guided by the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of Oyo State which was signed into law by previous government of Oyo State.
“And as far as that is in operational, whatever they are doing will conform with that.Once they conform with that and bring it to the state government, that is when the governor will act on it.
“But as of now, the process is still at the infant stage, at the local government level,” Adisa said.