The kingmakers’ selected candidate for the Alaafin stool, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, has accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of usurping the power of the Oyomesi and violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, with his appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo.
Gbadegesin said Makinde’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicted the judgment of Oyo State High Court of December 19, 2022, which declared Ifa consultation in the selection process unlawful, ‘’as it is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.’’
Consequently, he has headed for Oyo State High Court to challenge the appointment and presentation of the staff office to Prince Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by the governor.
Gbadegesin is praying the court to set aside the appointment, approval of appointment and presentation of staff of office to a new Alaafin carried out by the governor.
In a pre-action notice signed by his legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju, SAN, a copy of which was said to be addressed to the governor, he insisted that the governor’s actions fell foul of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law 2000.
According to him, the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after his selection, lacked credibility and were not formally communicated to the governor or investigated.
