Tola Jimoh/
The two ruling houses in Oyo, Agunloye and Alowolodu, have cautioned the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuff Ayoola, who doubles as the head of the Oyo traditional council, popularly known as Oyomesi, against undermining the position of Alaafin.
Members of the Oyomesi are traditionally and legally saddled with the responsibility of selecting a new Alaafin.
The warning was contained in a three-page letter, entitled, ‘Putting Records Straight on the Social and Traditional Responsibilities of Oyomesi,’ dated October 10, 2022 and addressed to “the Bashorun of Oyo and Head of Oyomesi-in-Council, Bashorun Quarters, Oyo, High Chief Yusuff Ayoola Layinka I”.
The letter was jointly signed by the Mogaji (head) of Alowolodu Ruling House, Prince Hassan Oranlola and Mogaji of Agunloye Ruling House, Prince Samuel Ademola Adeladun. Copies of the letter were also sent to all members of Oyomesi and Baba Iyaji of Oyo.
The two ruling houses have produced all previous Alaafins on rotational basis since Alaafin Atiba Atobatele founded the current Oyo 1829. The only exception being in 1911 when Alaafin Siyanbola Ladigbolu I directly succeeded his late father, Alaafin Lawani Agogo Ija, despite the fact that both were from the Agunloye Ruling House.
The immediate past Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III was produced by the Alowolodu Ruling House, while his predecessor, Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II, came from Agunloye Ruling House.
The process of appointing a new Alaafin has reportedly reached an advanced stage with the Agunloye Ruling House naturally expected to produce the next Alaafin.
In the letter, the Agunloye and Alowolodu Ruling Houses warned the Bashorun to be mindful of his utterances, especially now that the world is focussing attention on Oyo on the selection, appointment, and installation of a new Alaafin.
The two ruling houses alleged that Basorun granted press interviews recently on which he allegedly undermined and discredited the position of Alaafin. He was quoted to have purportedly said amongst others that Oyomesi would no longer pay homage to Alaafin in public, Oyomesi would no longer allow the Alaafin to adjudicate on land matter, and members of Oyomesi-in-Council would no longer seek the permission of Alaafin before travelling outside the town.
The letter reads in part, “We wish to caution that any public statement or press interview that when granted by Basorun as regent may cause confusion or disunity in the town should be avoided, particularly during this sensitive period when the process of selecting the new Alaafin is still ongoing. As royal families, we are conscious of the misgivings such unwarranted statements may cause now or later.
“It is an aberration and alien to cultural practice for Basorun and Oyomesi to create and impression or making candidate aspiring for the throne to sign and undertaken to jettison some cultural practices or trade off some powers and traditional responsibilities of the Palace (Alaafin). As royal houses, we show strong exception to and discontent against any form of attempt to force any candidate or Alaafin-elect to abrogate any established tradition and practice before installation.
“It is cultural and it is the agelong prerogative of Alaafin to adjudicate on land matters. Alaafin has divine authority that cannot be usurped by the Oyomesi. Alaafin by extant policy, law and established protocol is required to inform the local government chairman before travelling outside. So, it is not out of order for Oyomesi to seek permission from Alaafin before travelling outside the town. Oyo has her unique tradition and administrative procedure and that any attempt to alter those things will be a great disservice to Oyo.
“We charge you to continue to discharge your cultural responsibility during this interregnum with openness, transparency and fairness in the selection process without compromising the agelong tradition of Oyo traditional and cultural system.”