Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, one of the contenders for the Alaafin of Oyo throne, has taken legal action to contest the appointment and presentation of the staff of office to Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde. Gbadegesin, who was reportedly recommended by a faction of the Oyomesi (the kingmakers), is seeking the court’s intervention to set aside both the appointment and the presentation of the staff of office.
In a pre-action notice signed by his legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, and addressed to the governor, Gbadegesin asserts that the governor’s actions are in violation of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law of 2000. The notice claims that the selection process for the new Alaafin was improperly handled, and the appointment of Owoade should not have taken place as it allegedly contradicts the provisions of the law.
The controversy over the appointment of the new Alaafin has led to a bitter dispute between the kingmakers and the governor. Five out of the seven members of the Oyomesi had recommended Gbadegesin for the prestigious role. However, on January 10, Governor Makinde approved Prince Owoade as the Alaafin and presented him with the staff of office, a decision that has sparked significant opposition from some quarters.
During the official presentation, Governor Makinde vowed not to allow the Alaafin stool to become politicized and warned that individuals seeking to destabilize the traditional institution in Oyo State would face prosecution.
Gbadegesin’s legal challenge is based on the argument that by appointing a different candidate, the governor has overstepped his authority, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which designates the Oyomesi as the sole authority responsible for selecting the Alaafin. Additionally, Gbadegesin’s lawyer claims that the governor’s reliance on an Ifa consultation in the selection process is unlawful, referencing a December 2022 ruling by the Oyo State High Court, which declared such consultations to be outside the scope of the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.
The petition also rejects allegations of bribery by two members of the Oyomesi, which surfaced over a year after the selection, and argues that these claims were not formally communicated or investigated by the governor. Gbadegesin is requesting the court to annul the appointment of Prince Owoade and declare his own selection as the legitimate choice for the Alaafin of Oyo, asserting that it was done in accordance with the Chiefs Law of Oyo State and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.
This legal battle has further intensified the ongoing dispute over the throne, which is one of the most prominent traditional positions in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
