ALAAFIN STOOL: GROUP URGES OYO-MESI TO UNITE AND FOLLOW TRADITIONS
A Yoruba socio-cultural group, Committee for Defence of Yoruba Traditional Institutions (CDYTI) has called on members of the Oyo-Mesi Privy Council to unite and follow the historical traditional process of selection of a new Alaafin of Oyo.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued and signed by Secretary of the Group, Oluseun Adigun Oriade and made available to newsmen yesterday in Ibadan.
The Group condemned clandestine attempts by some of the aspirants to use “political connection”, “religious sentiment” and “money” to obtain the highly revered stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.
It will be recalled that the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde had said during the commissioning of Iseyin-Oyo Road on September 15, 2023, that the highly revered stool of Alaafin of Oyo is not for sale.
In the Governor’s words “the state would do everything possible to protect the stool” and that “anyone who might have given money to anyone because of the stool would be sent to the Federal anti-graft agency, EFCC.”
In the statement, the socio-cultural group condemned one of the aspirants who declared himself “Alaafin-elect” on social media on April 26, 2023, as well as condemned alleged attempts by some politicians in Oyo town to impose a “an octogenarian and religious leader” as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The group reminds members of the Oyo-Mesi Privy Council about the sacred mandate they hold as traditional kingmakers in Oyo town and urge them to follow established traditions in the selection of a new Alaafin for the Yoruba race. The group urges Basorun of Oyo to convene a meeting of Oyo-Mesi and other stakeholders immediately and do the needful in accordance with traditions.
Whatever will do today will become history tomorrow. Alaafin stool was occupied by Sango, the revered god of thunder, people should beware of generational curses, the group added.
