Oyo: New Alaafin for next month – Kingmaker
The Iba Samu of Oyo Empire, Chief Lamidi Oyewale, who is one of the ‘Oyomesis’ (kingmakers) in Oyo town, said yesterday that the new Alaafin of Oyo would emerge before May 29.
He said the delay in the ongoing process to choose the new monarch was to have a rancour-free coronation.
There was rumour on the social media on Wednesday that one of the contestants for the Alaafin stool, Prince Lukman Mofojudola Ayinla Gbadegesin Agunloye, had been appointed as the new monarch.
But Oyo State Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, said no one had been chosen or recognised as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Speaking in Oyo town at the one year remembrance prayer for the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Chief Oyewale urged people to be patient for God to choose for them so that there wouldn’t be any problem when the new king eventually emerged.
He said Oyo town had sometimes been without a king for over three years before the enthronement of Oba Adeyemi when his predecessor died.
“It’s just a year the late Alaafin died. Before the swearing-in of the governor, a new Oyo monarch will emerge.
“I don’t want to comment much on the process of the emergence of a new Alaafin, I’ve said a lot of things and did a lot of interviews concerning it. Though we have little challenges, my prayer is that God will give us another king that will better our lives.”
The stool of Alaafin became vacant when Oba Adeyemi joined his ancestors at 83 after spending 52 years on the throne.
People at the one year remembrance prayer eulogised the late monarch for his efforts towards the development, sustainability and upholding unity of Yoruba land.
They said the vacuum the monarch left behind would be hard to fill.
Dignitaries at the event include Mogaji Hassan Oranlola, the Aminu Mumina of Oyo State, Alhaji Yakubu Manasara, Imam Alaafin, Alhaji Muhammed Olanrewaju, Alhaji Mudashiru Yusuf and Alhaji Muhammed Bashir, among others.
