Olayiwola Matthew
Lukman Gbadegesin has issued an 30-day ultimatum to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, demanding that he reverses the appointment of Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo and announces him as the replacement.
Gbadegesin claims that his selection as the next Alaafin by the Oyo Kingmakers, the Oyomesi, was unanimous, and that the Governor’s approval of Owoade instead contravenes the provisions of the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and section 20 of the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law of 2000.
In a pre-action notice issued through his lawyers, Gbadegesin alleged six specific legal breaches characterizing Owoade’s appointment.
“We request that the Governor and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs address the Issues raised and rectify these breaches within 30 days of receipt of this notice. Failure to do so will compel our client to seek appropriate legal redress In court,” said Adekunle Sobaloju, Gbadegesin’s lawyer.
The alleged breaches include the Governor’s reliance on Ifa consultation, which contradicts a court judgment declaring such consultations unlawful in the selection process.
Additionally, Gbadegesin’s legal team argues that the governor unilaterally usurped the roles of the Oyomesi to convene a meeting and announce a different candidate.
If the Governor fails to meet demands, his lawyers plan to seek legal action to nullify Owoade’s appointment and declare Gbadegesin the rightful candidate for the Alaafin stool.
They will also ask the court to restrain Owoade from parading himself as Alaafin and to direct the governor to approve Gbadegesin’s appointment.