By Rtd. Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, joined his ancestors on the 23rd of April 2022 at the age of 83 years.
It’s customary for him to be mourned over a period of time. Within the period of mourning, the ruling house that will produce the next Alaafin, is expected to put finishing touches on preparations to present to the Oyo Mesi, the traditional kingmakers, the Alaafin designate, for consideration.
So fierce is this process, that before the demise of Adeyemi, the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, there were numerous speculations, about how a successor to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo will emerge.
So much talk about the calibre of persons who will succeed Alaafin and the criteria for his selection.
The late Oba Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu in 1970, and after 52 years on the throne, civilisation has greatly influenced the tradition and culture of the ancient Oyo Kingdom.
There has been a change in the number of Oyo Mesi, the prominent palace chiefs, who are the kingmakers.
But despite these changes, the existing chieftaincy declaration still serves as a guide for the selection of Oyo kings.
TWO RULING HOUSES
The declaration states that there are two royal houses in Oyo – Alowolodu and Agunloye. The two families are to take turns ascending the throne.
The late Alaafin was from the Alowolodu royal family, so it is now the turn of the Agunloye family.
The Agunloye family is also known as ‘Ladigbolu’ or ‘Gbadegesin’ in some quarters
ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LADIGBOLU AND GBADEGESIN?
After the demise of Oba Adeyemi, a debate began on which family will present the next king between Ladigbolu and Gbadegesin.
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Clarifying the confusion over the names, Ayo Ladigbolu, a retired Archbishop of the Methodist Church and a prominent elder of the Ladigbolu family, said they are one family under Agunloye royal house.
He said: “The late Alaafin Gbadegesin was the son of Alaafin Ladigbolu. The full title was Oba Bello Gbadegesin Ladigbolu (11).
“His father was the first and the next from the family will be the Third.”
HOW IS THE SUCCESSOR NOMINATED?
Based on the chieftaincy declaration, the ruling house that is to produce the next king, in this case, the Agunloye ruling house, will nominate candidates at a meeting which will be summoned by the head of that family.
The candidate or candidates will then be presented to Baba Iyaji, a titled Prince of Oyo, who will subsequently submit the names to the Bashorun, head of the kingmakers known as Oyo Mesi.
The Bashorun will then summon a meeting of the kingmakers and present the list to them.
Explaining further, Ladigbolu said the candidate acceptable to the majority of the kingmakers will thereafter be proclaimed as the Alaafin designate.
WHO ARE THE KINGMAKERS?
Ladigbolu said, apart from the Oyo state government declaration, which guides the selection of Alaafin of Oyo, the Oyo Mesi (kingmakers) will have the final say on this matter.
Although seven kingmakers were once recognised, the numbers have dwindled with the nullification of one of the kingmakers.
“These seven kingmakers according to the declaration are, Bashorun, Ashipa, Agabaakin, Alapinni, Lagunna, Shamu and Akiniku,” Ladigbolu stated.
“The title of Ashipa was the one that was nullified, and as such, it no longer exists. As we speak, only six kingmakers are remaining as members of the Oyo Mesi.”
ONLY MALES MAY BE PROPOSED
According to Ladigbolu, women are exempted from being considered for the throne of Alaafin of Oyo.
“The chieftaincy of Oyo has an official declaration. It was made under section four, sub-section two of the Chiefs law cap 19 of the customary law regulating the selection of the Alaafin of Oyo chieftaincy.
“The person who may be proposed as a candidate shall be through the male line only.”
NO SPECIFIC TIME-FRAME
There is no specific time frame for the selection of the next king of Oyo because it all depends on those who run the process, says Ladigbolu.
Although the family will be given 14 days to hold a meeting and submit a list to Baba Iyaji, if the list contains more than one name, the process will take a longer time.
“The kingmakers may have to interview the individuals presented before taking a decision. The selection of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi took a bit longer because of the political atmosphere then,” he said.
“There was a lot of tension and litigation so it was not a smooth process then.
“We pray that this time, there will not be a delay just as His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, appealed to the kingmakers to be quick about the process.”
TOO EARLY TO MEET
Does the Agunloye (Ladigbolu/Gbadegesin) family already have preferred candidates for the kingmakers? Ladigbolu said it is too early to start considerations.
He said “It will be irresponsible to begin the process when the town is still mourning the passage of Alaafin Adeyemi.
“I am from the Agunloye ruling family but it is too early to meet. This is a mourning period because we just lost a king. I have been busy since Alaafin died and it will continue till after the eighth day,” said the retired cleric.
ALL COMERS AFFAIR
In selecting the next Alaafin, the law does not specify age, educational background, knowledge of the tradition and culture of Oyo or personal wealth as criteria.
All males of the Agunloye are qualified to come forward and signify their intention to become the next Alaafin.
WILL THE NEXT KING USE LATE ALAAFIN’S PALACE?
According to Ladigbolu, the present palace was not the property of the late king. He said “it is the traditional seat of the Oyo royal throne and all kings reign from there, except when it is under renovation or reconstruction.
“Alaafin means the owner of the PALACE. Oranyan was the first owner of that palace. The Palace is where the King resides,” he remarked.
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