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From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Ahead of appointing new Alaafin of Oyo, which has reached an advanced stage, nine out of the 11 royal families in Oyo kingdom in Oyo State have said the crisis rocking the ascension to the throne for centuries can be solved by the Oyomesi, known as the kingmakers, in the Oyo Traditional Council before the enthronement of new monarch.
A member of the Adelabu Atiba Royal Family, Ahmed Adelabu, who spoke on behalf of the nine families, made the disclosure during an encounter with newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the weekend.
The immediate past Alaafin, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, was produced by the Alowolodus, while his predecessor, Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu, was produced by the Agunloyes.
According to him, the Agunloye and Alowolodu royal families have been the ones producing occupants of the throne on rotational basis for centuries. He added that the other nine children of Atiba, have been sidelined.
Adelabu said the kingmakers are supposed to play neutral roles among all the 11 sons of Atiba, who founded the present Oyo kingdom. He said the head of the kingmakers, known as Bashorun, always served as regent on the death of every Alaafin, pending the time a substantive monarch would be appointed.
He added that the correction that the kingmakers must make is to ensure the new Alaafin comes from one of the nine royal families that have been purportedly sidelined for centuries. The nine families, he said are united and are ready to present one candidate for the throne
“What we are agitating for is nothing less than to allow all other princes to be included in this chieftaincy matter. Our aim and objective is inclusiveness because they have marginalised us for centuries. So, we want to leave a good legacy for our own children.
