No fewer than 10 royal families in Oyo have alleged marginalisation under the 1961 Alaafin chieftaincy declaration that guides ascension to the throne of the Alaafin.
Currently, the declaration restricts eligibility for the throne to two recognised ruling houses: Alowolodu and Agunloye.
In a statement provided to The PUNCH, the families argued that limiting the throne’s eligibility to only two branches of Alaafin Atiba’s lineage, despite his extensive descendants, is unjust.
The head of the Olawoyin family, Tijani Olawoyin, speaking on behalf of the nine other “deprived” families, called on the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to address the historical exclusion.
He urged them to grant equitable opportunities to all descendants of Alaafin Atiba and rectify the grievances of those excluded from their ancestral heritage.
The families referenced the 1976 Adekunle O. Ladeinde Inquiry Commission report, which recommended the establishment of a single Atiba Ruling House to include all Atiba descendants.
“We implore Governor Makinde to address the inequities entrenched in the 1961 declaration, which narrows eligibility for the Alaafin throne to just two sons of Alaafin Atiba, despite his extensive lineage.
“This declaration, deemed defective by the 1976 Adekunle O. Ladeinde report, advocated for establishing a single Atiba Ruling House to encompass all descendants of Atiba.
“We appeal to correct this historical anomaly to grant equitable opportunities to all heirs of Alaafin Atiba and address the grievances of those marginalised from their rightful heritage.
“We also call on His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, to collaborate with the state government in revising this declaration, ensuring the inclusion of all excluded descendants of Atiba.”
The families listed as marginalised include Olawoyin, Agbonhin (Allah ni yio bo Asiri), Ogo, Adelabu, Adediran, Adesetan, Tella Okitipapa, Tella Agbojulogun, Adesokan, and Abidekun, among others.
While congratulating Oba Owoade on his ascension, the families urged him to promote peace, harmony, and dignity among the people, including safeguarding the rights of both indigenes and non-indigenes within Oyo and in the diaspora.
In a statement signed by the family’s secretary, Rasheed Olawoyin, they called on Governor Makinde to foster reconciliation with the Oyomesi through open dialogue to ensure lasting peace and mutual respect.
Similarly, the Olawoyin royal family urged the Oyomesi to resolve their internal disputes and unify their ranks for the benefit of Oyo’s unity and progress.
The families further called on the Oyomesi to mend internal rifts and ensure unity remains the hallmark of Oyo’s progress.
They also urged Governor Makinde to prioritise Oyo’s cultural and historical legacy while fostering a productive relationship with the newly crowned monarch.
The statement added: “Tradition, which has always been the cornerstone of our heritage, reveals that selecting the Alaafin was historically the sole responsibility of the Oyomesi, without consulting the Ifa oracle.
“The recent consultation of the Ifa oracle in selecting the new Alaafin has sparked debate within the community and represents a significant deviation from established norms.
“Reflecting on historical precedents, after the transition of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin to the ancestral plane in 1968, there were 54 aspirants, including Prince Tijani Adebayo Olawoyin Atiba, now the Mogaji of the Olawoyin Royal Family.
“Through meticulous deliberations led by the Oyomesi and facilitated by Baba Iyaji, the contenders were narrowed to three, including Prince Olawoyin Atiba. Ultimately, by divine orchestration, the late Oba Adeyemi III ascended the throne without the invocation of Ifa oracle divination.
“It is vital that the governor holds the historical and cultural significance of the Oyomesi in high regard, ensuring a harmonious relationship that promotes the development of Oyo under its new monarch,” the statement held.
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