From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday made it crystal clear that the respected stool of Alaafin of Oyo, which became vacant in April 2022, following the demise of the immediate past Alaafin, the late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is not for sale because the throne is very important to the Yoruba race.
He spoke at the commissioning of a satellite campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, in Iseyin, which houses Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources.
Makinde gave the assurance in the presence of a former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the special guest of honour at the event.
Obasanjo had earlier commissioned the 34.85kilometre Oyo-Iseyin Road, which was reconstructed by the administration of Governor Makinde in the state, and also inspected the Fashola Farm Settlement, that has also been transformed by the government of Makinde towards ensuring food security in the state.
Makinde stated that he had approved the selection of new Aseyin of Iseyin, and added that coronation and presentation of staff of office to Prince Sefiu Olawale Oyebola as the new Aseyin of Iseyin would take placesoon. Another approval granted by Governor Makinde also led to the installation of new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, in September this year. The stool of Soun was vacant from December 2021 to September 2023.
The governor, however, appealed to the princes fighting over the section of new Alaafin in Oyo town to give peace a chance, so that the town could have new monarch.
Makinde said: “Some people have been abusing me that I did not install new kings. Have I not given my approval for a new king in Iseyin? Are you happy about it? So, I look forward to coming back for coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Aseyin.
“The Oyos, you can see that we have linked Iseyin with Oyo now. It is only 22 minutes drive. Don’t fight again, let us have the chance to approve new Alaafin for you.
“Those that have gone to take money from somebody should know that Alaafin’s stool is not for sale. The stool is so important to Yorubaland that we shall not sell it. If you have gone to collect money, I will not take you to OYACA (Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency), but EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission).”
Though, Obasanjo, in his address did not make remarks on the stool of Alaafin, he only cautioned traditional rulers to always give due respect to governors because a governor is higher in rank than any king.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo, in his address at the commissioning of Iseyin-Oyo Road, said it is time for Nigeria to embrace a form of democracy that creates prosperity, rather than one that makes the people suffer.
According to him, a form of democracy that nurtures poverty, insecurity and unemployment, and does not allow the people to enjoy dividends of democracy must be thrown away.
He said: “We must throw away a form of democracy that nurtures poverty, insecurity and unemployment. We must allow the one that allows the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
Governor Makinde, earlier in his address, revealed that the construction of the road and other road projects in the state is in line with his administration’s plan to connect all the five zones in the state as well as curb rural-urban migration.
He revealed that his administration would subsequently complete other road projects in the state including all internal roads across the state.