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Akinwand Soji-Ojo
The Iba Samu and one of the kingmakers in Oyo town, Chief Lamidi Oyewale, has disclosed that a new Alaafin will emerge before May 29.
Recall that there were reports on social media on Wednesday that one of the contestants for the Alaafin stool, Prince Lukman Mofojudola Ayinla Gbadegesin Agunloye, had been appointed as the new monarch for the town.
But Oyo State Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, debunked the repots, saying that no one had been selected as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Speaking at the one year rememberance prayer for late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III on Thursday, Chief Oyewale urged people to be patient and allow God to choose for them so that there won’t be any problem when the new king eventually emerges
He said delay in the ongoing process to appoint a new monarch was to have rancour-free coronation.
According to him, Oyo town was without a king for over three years before the enthronement of Oba Adeyemi.
“It is just a year ago that the late Alaafin died, before the swearing-in of the governor, new Oyo monarch will emerge.
“I don’t want to comment much on process of selecting new Alaafin. I’ve said a lot of things and did a lot of interviews concerning it, though we have little challenges, but my prayer is that God will give us another king that will better our lives,” he said.
The Alaafin stool became vacant when Oba Adeyemi III joined his ancestors after spending 52 years on the throne.
At the one year rememberance prayer, people eulogised the late monarch for his efforts towards development, sustainability and upholding unity of Yoruba land, saying the vacuum the monarch left behind would be difficult to fill.
Dignitaries at the event include Mogaji Hassan Oranlola; Aminu Mumina of Oyo State, Alhaji Yakubu Manasara; Imam Alaafin, Alhaji Muhammed Olanrewaju; Alhaji Mudashiru Yusuf, Alhaji Muhammed Bashir among others.