Lukman Gbadegesin has requested Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to reverse the appointment of Akeem Owoade as the brand new Alaafin of Oyo and announce him because the substitute.
Mr Gbadegesin made this demand in a pre-action discover issued by way of his attorneys to the governor, alleging six particular authorized breaches characterising Mr Owoade’s appointment.
He gave the governor 30 days to fulfill his calls for or danger authorized motion.
“We request that the Governor and the Commissioner for Native Authorities and Chieftaincy Affairs tackle the Points raised and rectify these breaches inside 30 days of receipt of this discover. Failure to take action will compel our consumer to hunt acceptable authorized redress In court docket,” Mr Gbadegesin’s lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wrote within the pre-action discover.
A replica of the letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday is dated 14 January and bears an acknowledgement stamp of the governor’s workplace with the identical date. The governor or the state authorities has but to answer the letter publicly.
It accommodates what seems to be six prayers he’s poised to pursue in court docket towards the governor and different related authorities brokers ought to they fail to fulfill his calls for throughout the 30-day ultimatum.
Alleged breaches
Mr Gbadegesin, whom the Oyo’s Kingmakers, the Oyomes, unanimously chosen on 30 September 2022 as the subsequent Alaafin, contended that the governor’s actions, approving Mr Owoade as an alternative of him to the Alaafin stool, contravened the provisions of the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and part 20 of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Legislation of 2000.
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“By saying a distinct candidate, the Governor has usurped the powers of the Oyomesi, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which makes the Oyomesi the only authority for the number of the Alaafin.
“The Governor’s alleged reliance on Ifa session contradicts the judgement of the Oyo State Excessive Court docket of nineteenth December 2022, which declared Ifa session within the choice course of illegal, as it isn’t supplied for within the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
“Moreover, the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a 12 months after the choice, lack credibility and weren’t formally communicated to the Governor or investigated,” learn components of the six authorized breaches the letter stated the governor dedicated.
Other than these, Mr Gbadegesin’s authorized workforce stated different particulars of Mr Makinde’s authorized preaches embody the truth that although he didn’t droop, take away, or exchange any Oyomesi member, he “unilaterally usurped their roles to convene a gathering and announce a distinct candidate.”
The letter added that, of the 5 residing Oyomes! members, solely two have dissented, whereas the remaining three and two warrant chiefs nonetheless uphold the number of Mr Gbadegesin, “making the dissenting opinion a minority view”.
Swimsuit within the making
The letter accommodates doable prayers to be sought in court docket ought to the federal government fail to fulfill Mr Gbadegesin’s calls for.
His attorneys signalled within the letter that if his calls for weren’t met, he would resort to authorized motion to hunt the nullification of the appointment, approval, and presentation of the workers of workplace to Mr Owoade, which they argue have been performed in violation of established legal guidelines.
The authorized workforce additionally suggest to hunt “an order setting apart the purported appointment, approval of appointment, and presentation of workers of workplace to Mr Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo, because it was finished in violation of the provisions of the Chiefs’ Legislation of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. These actions are illegal, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.”
The attorneys additionally intend to hunt the court docket’s declaration that Mr Gbadegesin “was validly chosen and/or appointed by the Kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo because the rightful candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the Chiefs’ Legislation of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. Subsequently, his appointment is legitimate, lawful, and correct.”
In addition they stay up for asking the court docket to challenge an order of inunction “restraining Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade from parading himself as Alaafin of Oyo and or performing the features of the Alaafin of Oyo or exercising the powers or authority hooked up to the workplace and or occupying the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.”
They may also search an order “directing the Governor of Oyo State to Instantly and forthwith approve the appointment of Prince Lukman Adelodun Ayinia Gbadegesin validly chosen and or appointed by the Kingmakers of Oyo.”
READ ALSO: Regardless of kingmaker’s opposition, Oyo govt insists Alaafin’s appointment stays
Controversial presentation of the Workers of Workplace
On Monday, Governor Makinde offered the workers of workplace and certificates of appointment to the Alaafin-elect, Abimbola Owoade.
The ceremony was held on the Governor’s Workplace, Agodi, Ibadan.
The occasion was attended by the brand new Alaafin, excessive chiefs, and spiritual leaders from Oyo city.
On Friday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the transfer by the Oyo State Authorities ignited a firestorm of controversy.
Some Oyo indigenes criticised Mr Makinde for bypassing the Oyomesi—the standard kingmakers—within the choice course of.
Mr Owoade succeeds the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, whose 50-year reign ended together with his passing on 22 April 2022.
The forty sixth coronation of the brand new Alaafin is ready to happen in Oyo city within the coming days.
How Gbadegesi emerged as Oyomesi’s unique selection
Following the late Alaafin’s demise, the Oyomesi, consistent with the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, started choosing a successor.
With the governor’s approval in August 2022, the Atiba Native Authorities facilitated the method, screening 82 candidates from the Agunloye Ruling Home.
On 30 September 2022, the Oyomesi unanimously selected Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, grandson of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin (1956–1966).
The choice was formally communicated to the governor on 4 October 2022, per the Chiefs’ Legislation of Oyo State.
No petitions have been filed throughout the 21-day attraction interval, and the Oyo State Excessive Court docket dismissed a authorized problem by a dissatisfied aspirant on 19 December 2022, affirming the validity of the method.
Nevertheless, after the 2023 basic elections, two Oyomesi members alleged bribery in Gbadegesin’s choice, although no proof or formal complaints have been submitted.
Governor Makinde withheld approval of Mr Gbadegesin’s appointment for over a 12 months earlier than he introduced Mr Owoade because the Alaafin-designate, a extensively criticised resolution violating customary practices and the legislation.
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