Alaafin Elect: No Assent Of Governor Yet- Media Aide, Prince Bukola

Against the information making the rounds yesterday that a new Alaafin-elect has emerged to fill the stool vacated by Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who joined his forefathers on April 22, 2022, the Director of Media and Publicity for the late Alaafin, Bode Durojaye, has said that such news was fake and a mere rumour.

Similarly, one of the Princes jostling for the exalted stool, Oladigbolu Ismail Bukola, yesterday told CityMirrorNews that the news was fake and should be discountenanced.

The news had it that Prince Adelodu Gbadegesin from Agunloye family has been selected by the Oyomesi to succeed the late 45th Alaafin of Oyo who passed on at the Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Ado Ekiti. He was aged 83 and reigned for 52 years.

Durojaye said “Such news is mere rumour. Did you see the assent of the governor of the Chief Press Secretary in the purported story? Such important information could not have been publicized without the Governor ot the CPS signing it. So, consider it as rumour and disregard it. It didnt emanate from the palace or from the government”, he said.

.in his reaction, Prince Bukola Oladigbolu said, “The only news which has not been contradicted is that of Governor Seyi Makinde who spoke on Tuesday that due process has to be followed before a new Alaafin would emerge. It is rumour and mere fake news for anybody to claim that a new Alaafin-elect has emerged. I have made contacts with the Oyomesi and also prominent people at the Aafin today. There was nothing of such information. I could as well have announced myself as the new Alaafin if that is how it is fone. It is mere rumour. Disregard it. The process is still ongoing”, he said.

It ill be recalled that upon the demise of the Alaafin last year, the Oyomesi-in-Council had welcomed applications from interested Princes from the Agunloye Ruling House and 118 aspirants with their full names had been shortlisted.

They included: Prince Mojeed Abiola Gbadegesin (a Pharmacist), Prince Oladigbolu Adewale Aderemi, Prince Dr. Ajibade Adebayo Adeladan, Prince Taofeek Adewumi Akaaki Ladigbolu, and Prince Waidi Abiade Owoade,Archbishop Prince Lawrence Sanda Ayo Ladigbolu (83 years), Prince Yunusa Abiodun Olawoyin, Prince Ademola Adegoke (a lawyer), and Oladigbolu Ismail Bukola (32 years),

Others in the list were: Prince Olaide Dauda Oladimeji Agunloye, Prince Jelili Adewale Adeyanju Adesiyan (a.k.a. Jallo, former Minister for Police Affairs), and Prince Joel Adenrele Adegboyega Adeyemi, among others.

The list was later pruned to 48 by the
Oyomesi led by the acting Regent and the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka 1, and since the interviews and screenings conducted by the Oyomesi, no development has been heard of till Tuesday when the state governor, Seyi Makinde said the delay in installing new Alaafin was not caused by him as due process must be followed.