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Pronounce me as duly appointed Alaafin of Oyo within 30-days or face legal suit, Gbadegesin tells Governor Makinde

A contestant for the stool of Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has asked Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to declare him as the duly appointed monarch of the ancient town within 30-days, else he (Makinde) would be drag to court.

Penpushing reports that Gbadegesin made this demand in a pre-action notice issued through his lawyers to the Governor asking him reverse the appointment of Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo alleging six specific legal breaches characterising  Owoade’s appointment.

The contestant in the letter of pre-action notice dated January 14, 2025 already acknowledged at the Governor’s office, but yet to be responded to as at the time of filing this report, requested the Governor and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to rectify the issues raised

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“We request that the Governor and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs address the Issues raised and rectify these breaches within 30 days of receipt of this notice. Failure to do so will compel our client to seek appropriate legal redress in court’ Gbadegesin emphasized.

Penpushing further reports Gbadegesin’s lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the pre-action notice with six prayers declared to pursue in court against the governor and other relevant government agents should they fail to meet his demands within the 30-day ultimatum.

The contestant, whom the Oyo’s Kingmakers, the Oyomesi, unanimously selected on September 30, 2022 as the next Alaafin, contended that the governor’s actions, approving Owoade instead of him to the Alaafin stool, contravened the provisions of the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and section 20 of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law of 2000.

“By announcing a different candidate, the Governor has usurped the powers of the Oyomesi, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which makes the Oyomesi the sole authority for the selection of the Alaafin’, the notice read.

‘The Governor’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicts the judgement of the Oyo State High Court of 19th December 2022, which declared Ifa consultation in the selection process unlawful, as it is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961’, it added.

“Furthermore, the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after the selection, lack credibility and were not formally communicated to the Governor or investigated,” read parts of the six legal breaches the letter said the governor committed’.

Penpushing also reports that Gbadegesin’s legal team apart from these said other particulars of Makinde’s legal preaches include the fact that even though he did not suspend, remove, or replace any Oyomesi member, he unilaterally usurped their roles to convene a meeting and announce a different candidate.

The letter argued that, of the five living Oyomes! members, only two have dissented, while the remaining three and two warrant chiefs still uphold the selection of  Gbadegesin, making the dissenting opinion a minority view.

Penpushing reports that the lawyers in the letter emphasised that if Gbadegesin’s demands were not met, he would resort to legal action to seek the nullification of the appointment, approval, and presentation of the staff of office to Owoade, which they argue were conducted in violation of established laws.

The legal team in same vein propose to seek an order setting aside the purported appointment, approval of appointment, and presentation of staff of office to Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo, as it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chiefs’ Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, pointing out that these actions are unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.

Penpushing further reports that the legal team equally, intend to seek the court’s declaration that Gbadegesin was validly selected and/or appointed by the Kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the rightful candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the Chiefs’ Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. Therefore, his appointment is valid, lawful, and proper.”

The lawyers will similarly ask the court to issue an order of inunction restraining Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade from parading himself as Alaafin of Oyo and or performing the functions of the Alaafin of Oyo or exercising the powers or authority attached to the office and or occupying the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.”

Penpushing also reports the notice will also seek an order directing the Governor of Oyo State to Immediately and forthwith approve the appointment of Prince Lukman Adelodun Ayinia Gbadegesin validly selected and or appointed by the Kingmakers of Oyo.”

The Governor it is recalled on Monday presented the staff of office and certificate of appointment to Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin-elect at a ceremony held at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan. attended by the new Alaafin, high chiefs, and religious leaders from Oyo town.

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