Akinwande Soji-Ojo
For the umpteenth time, the nine ruling houses within the Atiba dynasty have said they are legitimately entitled to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo.
A statement jointly signed on Wednesday by Prince Makanjuola Adediran (Adediran-Ese Apata); Prince Adebowale Adesiyan (Adesiyan);Prince Adediwura Lamola (Olanite); Prince Adetunji Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode); Princes Agboin Olayiwola (Adelabu Baba Ibadan);Prince Ademola Adesina Afolabi (Adeitan); Prince Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa); Prince Adekunle Bello (Iteade Abidekun); Prince Tella Agbojulogun (Agbojulogun) and Pa Tijani Adebayo Olawoyin Atiba (Olawoyin Family), who are the respresentatives of the nine ruling houses, said that the people are tired of the fraudulent, conquest method and illegal way the nine royal houses have been sidelined and are ready to stand up for justice in Oyo land.
They also condemned the reaction of Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola Layinka, to the press conference they had on Monday, saying his reaction does not represent the true position of all members of the Oyomesi.
“We have no issue with the Oyo Mesi and the Head of Oyo Princes, Baba Iyaji.The reported response and reaction of Chief Akinade Yusuf Ayoola Layinka, the Basorun of Oyo, to our press conference did not represent the true position of all members of the Oyo Mesi. This is so because the so-called statement by the Basorun of Oyo was not signed by all members of the Oyo Mesi.
“Prince Afolabi Adesina of the Adeitan Royal Family is our spokesperson and he has the mandate to speak for all the nine royal families including the Olawoyin Royal Family too at any point in time.
“The statement released by Bode Durojaye is not only misleading, but it can cause chaos in the public, especially among the peace-loving people of Oyo because he is not familiar with historical facts and figures of Oyo people and their culture
“The same Alaafin Atiba that beget olujide Adelu Agunloye, begets Agboin Adelabu, Adesiyan, Tella Agbojulogun, Olawoyin, Alowolodu, Olanite, Adeitan, Tella Okitipapa, Adediran Ese Apata, Adesokan Baba Idode, Iteade Abidekun, among others male children.
“The entire Oyo and Yoruba people are not fools! In case Bode Durojaye is not aware, the people of Oyo are silently monitoring the ongoing events and are deeply and solidly aware of the fact that all the remaining nine royal families, including Olawoyin within the Atiba Dynasty, are legitimately entitled to the noble throne of Alaafin of Oyo,” the statement read in part.
The nine ruling houses also described the “despicable use” of the social media platform of the immediate past Alaafin, late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, to attack “his own flesh and blood (his cousins from the other Atiba Royal Houses)” as illegal.
