Legal Tussle Afoot As Claimants Insist On Ancient Right To Stool
Governor Makinde Under Pressure To Crown New Monarch Before 2023 Poll
By Our Reporters
Following the final curtain call on the epochal, era-defining and glorious reign of the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, last April, the world was informed that the Ladigbolu Ruling House was next in turn to produce the next Alaafin – Oba Adeyemi having emerged from the Alowolodu ruling family.
Indeed, most Oyo royal affairs followers took it for granted that only these two ruling houses produce the Alaafin for the Oyo throne. How wrong they are!
The reality now is that fresh developing events in the ancient Oyo town have opened up new permutations as to who could ascend the exalted Alaafin throne as no fewer than nine family branches of Atiba ancestry are staking their claims to the Oyo monarchy.
To be sure, The Dream Daily Newspaper has learned that some of the nine families have taken legal steps to establish their right to the Oyo throne in court, which matter is pending for hearing.
Meanwhile, members of the two well-known ruling families are reportedly putting pressure on the Oyo Mesi and Governor Seyi Makinde to pick a new Alaafin from the Ladigbolu Ruling House, with a view to making any legal battle moot from the other nine excluded families.
The 2023 re-election bid by Governor Makinde has brought fresh, interesting twists into picking the next Alaafin as the governor is reportedly mindful of not ruffling powerful feathers in Oyo in order not to jeopadise his second term bid with voters in the town.
The Dream Daily Newspaper learned that the nine royal families are staking their claims to the Oyo throne based on the Atiba Descendants Chieftaincy Declaration of 8th December, 1976, which expanded the ruling houses beyond the duo of Alowolodu and Ladigbolu families.
However, the snag these nine families face, according to a legal source who pleaded anonymity since the matter is subjudice, is that the Oba Adeyemi III “strategically declined to sign the 1976 Declaration, which signature is needed to give it the force of law as par the Western Region chieftaincy law which mandates the incumbent Oba to sign such edicts to breathe legal life into them.”
Nevertheless, princes from these nine royal houses are forging ahead to present themselves to the Oyo Mesi in a bid to ascend to the Alaafin throne.
The latest to do so, according to a popular community news website in Oyo town – www.insideoyo.com – is the Adeitan Atiba Ruling House, Oniyun Compound, Oyo.
According to www.insideoyo.com, the Adeitan Atiba Ruling House has joined the race to produce the next Alaafin of Oyo at it has submitted the name of its nominee for the contest for the vacant traditional stool.
The ruling house, via a letter dated 23 June, 2022, submitted the name of Afolabi Adesina Ademola to the Oyomesi Traditional Council, Oyo Alaafin, as its candidate for the vacant stool, www.insideoyo.com disclosed.
Adeitan Atiba Ruling House, in the letter through Baba Iyaji of Oyo, Iyaji Quarters,
Oyo, said its decision was in line with the Atiba Descendants Chieftaincy Declaration (Ref Number 486/55, dated 8th December, 1976).
The letter was titled “Nomination Of Afolabi Adesina Ademola As Our Candidate For The Exalted Vacant Stool Of Alaafin Of Oyo”.
The letter was jointly signed by Afolabi Saheed Babatunde, Aderounmu Isiaka, Musbau Eboade, Aderounmu Afeez, Tijani Rasheed, Adesetan Adesina, Afolabi Babajide Olusayo, Afolabi Oluwasegun Adepoju, Tijani Risikat, Tijani Adekunle, Tijani Sikirat, Tijani Quadri and Limota Eboade.
The letter reads in part: “We, the descendants of Adeitan Atiba of Oniyun Compound, Oyo West Local Government, Oyo, hereby nominate and support the candidature of Afolabi Adesina Ademola for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.
“This is in line with the Atiba Descendants Chieftaincy Declaration, with Reference Number 486/55, dated 8th December, 1976.
“Our candidate, Afolabi Adesina Ademola, is the son of Joseph Abimbola Afolabi, the son of Eyinade Adeitan Atiba. His great grandfather, Adeitan Atiba, was the son of Olori Aworonke.
“Afolabi Ademola Adesina was born on the 23rd April,1980, at Oniyun Compound, Oyo. He attended Baptist Day Primary School Isokun (1984-1990). He proceeded to Ansar-U-Deen Grammar School, Opapa, Oyo for his Senior Secondary School Education (1990-1995).
“Afolabi Ademola Adesina attended Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin for both his Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Public Administration (1999-2005).
“He thereafter attended Cooperative Intenerant Secretary Course at Cooperative College, Akunlemu, Oyo (1998-1999). He is undergoing an LLB programme in the West African University, Cotonou, Benin Republic (2018 till date).
“He is an entrepreneur, industrialist and great investor. Afolabi Ademola Adesina is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tandemol International Limited, dealing with underground water drillings, constructions and water management system.
“He is also into building and construction works with presence in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Burkina Faso.
“His company is into Business Development and Consultancy Services, with presence in Europe and is, at the moment, partnering with some federal ministries on projects development.
“Afolabi Ademola Adesina is the founder and Chairman/CEO Ogboja and Co Nigeria Enterprises, a business establishment that is into land and property management and consultancy services.
“The company also deals with concrete block making, productions of well rings and concrete poles, among others. The company is situated at Ayoola Street, besides Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kosobo-Awe Road, Oyo.
“He is a silent philanthropist with education support activities and other support initiatives.
“He is a youth development advocate, having served in different capacities as students’ union leader and leader of several youth organisations and movements.
“These include Projection Secretary of the Students’ Union Government, Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin (2002/2003 Academic Sessions); Head of Publicity Committee, National Association of Nigerian Polytechnics Students (2002-2003); NANS factional Senate President (2002-2005); Director of Students and Youth Mobilization for IBB Vision 2007.
“Afolabi Ademola Adesina was the chairmanship election standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017.
“He served as Special Adviser (Media) to Senator Teslim Folarin (2011-2019). He was appointed Principal Private Secretary/ Legislative Aide to Senator Teslim Folarin (2019 till date).”
In the letter to the Oyo Oyemi kingmakers, the Adeitan Atiba Ruling House further said its candidate, as the Mogaji of Adeitan Royal Family (2019-April 2022), underwent tutelage and gained vast experience in culture, tradition, stressing that he understands the Oyo chieftaincy institution, its core values and his cultural heritage as an Oyo prince.
The letter added: “For his community development activities and youth empowerment advocacy, he has received numerous awards and honours since his student days.
“Afolabi Ademola Adesina has the potentials, experience and exposure to accelerate growth and development in Oyo. He is well positioned to promote our culture, tradition and values.
“Given his wide experiences in community development and social services, he has the energy and pedigree to make Oyo greater than it is, in terms of educational advancement, industrial development, economic growth and value reorientation.
“He will promote peace, unity and tranquility at all times, if he is enthroned as the next Alaafin of Oyo. Afolabi Ademola Adesina is happily married and blessed with children.”
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