•Contestants’ figure rises to 49
The Regent and the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Yussuf Ayoola Layinka 1, has said contrary to a mischievous article in the social media, Ifa oracle and not members of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi) will decide and choose the next Alaafin of Oyo.
High Chief Layinka 1 made the clarification through the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, ‘Bode Durojaiye.
A write-up recently circulated in the social media indicated that the Oyo Mesi are the kingmakers and decide who the cap of the next Alaafin fits and not through Ifa consultation
But the Oyo Regent said: “In a contest for the exalted traditional stool, which involves more than a contestant, it will be counterproductive, naive and unacceptable for the Oyo Mesi members to pick a candidate through their discretion and without recourse to traditional divination.
“In the olden days, contestants to the vacant stool of the Alaafin were usually not more than one or two, and not as many as they are currently. So, it was easier to select and choose who the next Alaafin would be.
“In the present day situation that more than 40 contestants are vying for the Alaafin seat at a time, how will a right thinking person expect us (Oyo Mesi) to use our discretion and just pick anyone we deem fit? After the screening, there is need for divine consultation to lead us aright.
“The Oyo Mesi will never be self centred, egoistic, covetous, money conscious, conscience less and take any retroactive steps that will make the anxious people in the town hurl stones at us on the choice of the paramount ruler and head of the Yoruba. We will never be part of that. Oyo town is about the due process and we will not relent in that.”
Layinka cited an instance in the choice of the Basorun of Oyo, explaining that there were 25 contestants for the position, out of which the number was pruned back to 10 after the first screening.
“In the second screening, six contestants were dropped, thus remaining four in the race. The late Alaafin of Oyo, through the screening committee, enjoined the remaining four contestants to resolve amicably and pick a candidate among themselves.
“This was a Herculean task for the four of us as we could not resolve the matter. We returned to the committee, who briefed the late Alaafin on the matter.
“Without informing anybody, the late paramount ruler travelled to Iseyin where he met a spiritual leader known as ‘Baba Sango’ for consultation. After consultations were made on all of us, I was chosen by ‘Baba Sango’ as the rightful candidate for the post of the second-in-command to the Alaafin, the Basorun of Oyo. That was how I became the Basorun of Oyo and Chairman, Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi),” he said.
The Regent said the number of contestants for the vacant stool of the Alaafin was still counting, as it had risen to 49.
He added: “The total number of contestants is yet to be submitted to the Oyo Mesi by the concerned ruling houses. We have not begun procedures on the selection and choice of the new monarch.
“It is after the detailed list is submitted to the Oyo Mesi that all the contestants will be invited and counselled on the need for peaceful and harmonious relationships among them before, during and after the selection and installation of the new Alaafin.”
