One of the contestants for the vacant Alaafin of Oyo stool, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu has called for caution over the report of another contestant, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, parading himself to have been appointed as the new monarch.
The retired Bishop said there was the need for caution over such publication, saying: "As a critical stakeholder in the contest for the stool, I am supposed to know. But as it is, nobody told me anything."
"I doubt if the news is true. More so, Makinde told the whole world last Tuesday during the swearing in of Justice Iyabo Yerima as substantive Chief Judge of Oyo State, why the selection of the new Alaafin was delayed."
"So, we don’t understand what happened between Tuesday and Wednesday when a new Alaafin was allegedly selected."
"The governor said he would rather have the selection of the monarch delayed for the sake of due process rather than record a repeat of a situation where a monarch is removed by the courts for failure to abide by due process."
"According to him, once due process is followed, the state would not fret if anyone goes to court to challenge the process of emergence of any monarch."
Also, the Baba-Iyaji of Oyo, who is the head of princes in the town that have roles to play in the emergence of a new Alaafin, Mukaila Afonja, dismissed the story.
He said: "That is how I also heard it. I doubt if it is true. You all heard the governor speak on it on Tuesday. I see it as propaganda."
Meanwhile, the state government has also dispelled the rumour, saying that it has not approved or recognised anyone as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The Alaafin of Oyo stool became vacant after the transition of the 45th Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.
The monarch joined his ancestors at 83 after spending 52 years on the throne in April last year.
It was gathered that a rumour was rife on social media within and around the state on Wednesday that one of the contestants for the Alaafin of Oyo stool, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, had been appointed as the new monarch.
Responding on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, insisted that the selection process of the new monarch is ongoing.
Olatunbosun, in an interview with Vanguard, urged residents to desist from spreading such rumour.
The commissioner added that due process would be followed in the selection of the new monarch.
He said: "As far as we are concerned, we must follow due process."
"The moment the process is completed, we will make it public."
"The process is ongoing. The state government has not approve or recognise anyone as new Alaafin of Oyo," he stated.
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