Greetings to all Nigerians and every concerned mind who are eager to know who will be the fortunate one to occupy the vacant stool of Alaafin. A lot of documentaries had gone viral and series of information have been acoustically received from different quarters on the issue of emergence of a new Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo.
People have been expecting to hear from the Muslim Community in Oyo Alaafin. I hereby, as the Chairman, use this medium to echo to the public the voice of the Oyo Muslim Community.
First and foremost, the efforts of His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde on the subject matter is highly commendable. The entirety of Oyomesi (The Kingmakers) are appreciated, all the aspiring Princes in their struggle to assume the throne of their fore fathers is well acknowledged and others are thanked for their concern.
It is important to note that Oyo Alaafin is not an ordinary town in Yorubaland, Alaafin as a king is equally not an ordinary King among traditional rulers in Nigeria and the whole world. Therefore, selection of Alaafin is beyond ordinary, hence, must follow due process.
The body that has prerogative responsibility of selection in this regard is Oyomesi while role of the State Government is to endorse the candidate duly selected by the Oyomesi. I want to use this medium to implore Oyo State Government not to impose a candidate on Oyos to prevent opening a way for tendency of insinuations, suspicions or legitimate allegations that shall not be well with government and the subjects of the ancient town.
The Oyomesi was said to have selected and sent the name of a candidate to the government, if perhaps it is observed that the selection is faulty, suspicious, unjustifiable somehow or the candidate selected is not acceptable for some reasons, it behoves the Government of the state to take a pragmatic step to investigate circumstances surrounding his emergence, ask the Kingmakers to seek redress and probably chose another candidate from a The mong the screened contending princes.
Imposition from either of the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde or Oyo Kingmakers for whatever reason shouldn’t be prioritized. Imposing candidate especially the one not duly screened or might have been screened out for the stool of Alaafin may discredit the government and may be a threat to peaceful co- existence of the town.
However, it is the prerogative of the government to investigate the root cause of misunderstanding among the Kingmakers (The Oyomesi) and fashion a way of ensuring peaceful relationship between them to prepare clean and clear level ground for the incoming Alaafin.