Published 26th Oct, 2023

By Joseph Adeiye

Yusuf Akinade, the Basorun of Oyo and leader of the kingmakers called Oyomesi, has taken Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor, to court for not letting him have his way with the Alaafin of Oyo selection process.

FIJ saw the suit marked HOY/38/2023 before the Oyo State High Court in Oyo on Thursday, asking for a restraining order against Makinde and the Oyo government.

The claimants were Akinade, Wakeel Akindele Oyedepo (Lagunna of Oyo), Amusa Yusuf (Akinniku of Oyo), Wahab Oyetunji (Areago Basorun) and Gbadebo Mufutau (Alapo of Oyo). The defendants were Makinde, the Attorney General of Oyo State and the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs in Oyo.

The suit wants the court to give “An order of interloctory injunction restraining the defendants, their officers, agents, servants and or privies from aborting the process for the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo duly conducted by the Kingmakers of Alafin of Oyo Chieftaincy and or removing the claimants as Kingmakers of the Alafin of Oyo or dissolving the Oyomesi in Council and or appointing or selecting warrant chiefs to conduct or start a fresh process or exercise for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo.”

Akinade and his fellow claimants claimed that Makinde was harassing and intimidating them to change their choice for the Alaafin of Oyo stool.

FIJ earlier reported how Akinade tried to mislead the media with disinformation on the Alaafin selection process and how he said he had information that some chiefs took bribes.

FIJ received reliable information that the Alaafin nomination did not follow due process and a section of the Oyomesi owned up to that fact in September.

The high chief and two other members of the Oyomesi went into hiding because of an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on bribery accusations on October 17.

They were yet to honour the invitation at press time.

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