Kingmakers Give Makinde Ultimatum To Reverse Appointment Of Alaafin Owoade

The ultimatum was outlined in a letter dated January 14, 2025, addressed to Makinde by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Sobaloju, on behalf of Gbadegesin.

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In a separate letter, also dated January 14, 2025, written by Sobaloju on behalf of the five kingmakers, they cautioned Makinde against tarnishing their reputations by alleging bribery in the selection process for the Alaafin of Oyo.

The kingmakers condemned the governor’s media attacks, calling them “unwarranted and unbecoming” of the office he holds.

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They further warned the governor not to cross the line into defamation, stating: “Please recognize that you remain liable to prosecution for the defamatory acts committed by you in office, for which you may be held accountable after your period of immunity is over.”

The five aggrieved kingmakers are the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Laguna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele; Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf; the warrant chief representing Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunjii; and the warrant chief representing Alapinni of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

Governor Makinde had last Friday named Akeem Owoade, based in Canada, as the new Alaafin, and on Monday, he presented him with the staff of office and a letter of appointment.

Owoade’s appointment came just a day after Sobaloju had issued a statement on Thursday, warning Makinde to respect the pending lawsuit on the stool and not appoint anyone other than Gbadegesin, who had been selected by the five kingmakers.

During the ceremony on Monday, Makinde alleged that the selection process that resulted in Gbadegesin’s nomination had been tainted by corruption and bribery, and he vowed to prosecute anyone found guilty of taking a bribe.

However, in their strongly-worded letter to the governor, the kingmakers took offense at Makinde’s allegations, challenging him to present evidence in court rather than resorting to media attacks.

Gbadegesin contended that the governor violated six key aspects, including failing to act on a valid appointment, which was the unanimous selection of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, and unlawfully interfering with the selection process.

This interference, he argued, breached the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which grants the Oyomesi sole authority over the selection of the Alaafin.

Referencing the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, Gbadegesin’s legal team maintained that the appointment of Owoade as Alaafin should be declared unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.

The governor was also accused of violating a court ruling by allegedly relying on an Ifa consultation, which contradicted the Oyo State High Court’s December 15, 2022 decision.

That ruling declared Ifa consultation unlawful in the selection process, as it was not included in the 1961 Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.

Additionally, Gbadegesin pointed out that no formal complaint of bribery had been made to the governor, nor was there an investigation initiated.

The governor had not removed or suspended any Oyomesi members, yet he had unilaterally overstepped their authority and ignored the majority decision to select Prince Lukman Gbadegesin.