A day after the presentation of instruments of office to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, nine royal families, otherwise known as Atiba 9 have declared that they will not accept the appointment of the monarch.
The Atiba 9 in opposing Oba Owoade, alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde presented the staff of office to the new monarch following a proclamation by United States-based Awise Agbaye, Professor Wande Abimbola, that he was picked by Ifa as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
They also alleged that the appointment of Owoade as the Alaafin-designate was contrary to the custom, culture and tradition of Oyo, adding that the process was also against the rule of law.
The 9 royal families who also are laying claim to the throne, stated these in a statement issued on Tuesday on their behalf by Prince Sina Afolabi of the Adeitan royal family.
The other eight princes from the Atiba royal families included Prince Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa); Prince Lamola Olanite (Olanite); Prince Agboin Adelabu (Adelabu); Prince Raji Adeniran (Adeniran); Prince Nureni Taiwo (Tella Agbojulogun); Prince Muftau Adejare Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode): Prince Adesiyan (Adesiyan) and Prince Bello Rasheed (Abidekun).
They noted that they were not against the persons of Owoade and Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, another contestant earlier selected by the Oyomesi, as they have the legitimacy to aspire for the throne, but insisted that the process that produced the former was not in tandem with the tradition of ancient Oyo town.
The Atiba 9 added that they were still pursuing the case they filed in court against the process that produced Owoade and Gbadegesin, as the two contestants to the throne, before the final emergence of the former as the Alaafin-designate.
According to Afolabi, the process that produced Owoade was “Against the custom and tradition of the Oyo Royal Houses as regards the making and installation of the Alaafin.”
He further explained that Governor Makinde, who had been an advocate of due process, erred, saying: “What the governor did was totally against the highly revered Alaafin stool. His action has reduced the throne to an object of ridicule.
The Atiba 9 also charged the Oyomesi, under the leadership of Basorun, High Chief Yusuf Akinade to amicably resolve whatever disagreement they have among themselves, noting that they are the only ones that can initiate the process of selecting a new Alaafin.